16 March 2025

ON EMPIRE | Book Four [a work of nonfiction]


A Preface


I've been thinking about you lately. I do not think of my birth-mother's mother. I hope that you understand why better than I do. You were there, after all. And I do not think much of my birth-father, in general. I think of my birth-grandfather, my birth-father's father, often. I've become convinced that my birth-grandfather told me a lot of things during the short time I was raised by the two of you. 

The thing I've realized, however, is that my story is your story, and then this makes me wonder about your mother's story and her mother's story and every mother that came before us.

You are as far back as I can reach, and so, 안녕하세요 할머니. 

Would you like to be pen pals?

Your birth-granddaughter,
김선