I ended up having to book the lodging for the next holiday.
My name was posted first in the family group chat. I hadn’t even answered, but I was already the one responsible.
After the holiday, Sua proceeds with a lodging reservation she took on without being asked. In front of her counselor, she faces what truly stood in the way of that decision.
On the last day of the holiday break, Aunt posts in the family chat that she’ll look into lodging for the next holiday without asking Sua. Back home, Sua opens and closes the search page, taking the task on as if it were hers. Days later, while talking with Haewol, Sua realizes something else had been weighing on her before the lodging itself.
When an unasked-for decision becomes my responsibility
Don’t look only at what was decided. Look at who decided it and where the burden was placed, too.
What has recently been placed on you as if it were yours, without anyone asking?
What stayed with me longer than finding lodging was the moment one person’s name was posted first, without anyone asking. What had been handed over wasn’t just a reservation, but the burden of something she never decided. If there’s been a moment when someone else’s decision was placed on you as if it were yours, you can start by telling me about that moment.
Scenes
- 01 · The night her name was posted first The night her name was posted first — Without asking Sua, Aunt posted in the family group chat that Sua would look into lodging for the next holiday. Aunt: Since Sua’s good at finding lodging, she can look into it next time. Sua: Uh… okay.
- 02 · Opening and closing the search page Opening and closing the search page — Back home, Sua enters the dates for the next holiday into the lodging search, then deletes them. Nothing had been decided yet, but her hands were already looking for a place to book. Sua: But nothing’s even been decided yet…
- 03 · Faced with words no one asked me about Faced with words no one asked me about — Sua places her phone on the table to show the family chat. Aunt had posted the message, and the family had agreed without a second thought. Haewol: Sua, where did your hand stop when you read that message? Sua: She posted it without asking me.
- 04 · Placing the two burdens side by side Placing the two burdens side by side — Haewol places the task of finding lodging and the task assigned to Sua without asking her on separate lines. Sua traces with her fingertip a sentence she never said. Sua: But I never said that… Haewol: I notice what was posted without asking you before I notice the lodging. Which weighs on you more: finding the lodging, or the fact that no one asked you?
Stories by Haewol
- Haewol
- When I’m alone in my room, I wonder if it’s okay to rest today.
- I spent the whole afternoon staring at the guarantee form.
- When I’m alone at lunch, it feels like I’ll be responsible no matter which way I choose.
- After I put my child to bed, I wonder again whether to leave the work I know.
- Should I tell my family a secret?
- Living expenses after retirement: where do I start?
- It’s my day off, but I couldn’t even clean.
- With so few customers, should I keep the shop open?