Softly Auntie Ji An cries. Over the course of her life she had endured many storms and cried many tears after they passed. Hae-in puts his arm around her shoulder and gives her a squeeze. My back pack has been tossed on the floor. My clothes are scattered and wet. I have nothing to wear. By another miracle, my iPad is still on the bedside table. I pick it up. The white rectangle of light appears. It is working and fully charged! We head into the hall. In the front room the windows, curtains and all have been sucked out. The room looks like and angry child has tossed all their toys around. Gong Yoo lets out another howl. Auntie Ji An pulls him close and says, “I know baby. I know.” We put on our rain coats.

Outside, some of the trees have been knocked over. A small skiff has been dumped in the front yard. The rain is still falling. Neighbor Song’s house is whole. A flash of lightening reveals that her vegetable garden has been flattened. Her garden shed is gone. Tornados are such strange freaks of nature. On the front porch, Neighbor Song is waiting,holding a lantern. Auntie Ji An sees her and lets go of Hae-in. Heedless of the debris, she runs to the porch. Hae-in and I follow. Neighbor Song scolds, “Slow down Ji An before you break your neck.” Auntie Ji An doesn’t slow down. She rushes up the steps and throws her arms around Neighbor Song. She is sobbing. Neighbor Song holds her tight for a moment and then says, “Come inside my love.” Obediently, Auntie Ji An follows her inside.

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When I reach the porch, I feel a hand on my elbow. Hae-in steers me up the steps and into the house. Everything is dark inside except for the pool of lantern light on the table. Hae-in is still holding my elbow. He asks, “Are you okay?”

Unable to speak, I shake my head. He puts an arm around my shoulder. Instinctively, I lean into him. I am trembling. I do okay with storms, its the after math that I am not any good at. Hae-in pulls me close. He smells of rain.

Neighbor Song clucks her tongue. “You need to chuck your shoes and go towel off.”

I don’t want to move, I just want to stay where I am in the comfort of Hae-in. I feel his arm slide away from me. I don’t dare look at him, my eyes will say too much. With flashlight in hand Hae-in leads Auntie Ji An and Ito the bathroom.

A candle is flickering by the sink. Hae-in closes the door and leaves us. Auntie Ji An hands Gong Yoo to me and reaches for towels. My teeth are chattering. Once we are dry, she hands me one of her grandma nightgowns. I slip it on. Quietly, Auntie Ji An continues to cry. When she was young her fiancé worked on a fishing boat. A storm hit and the entire crew was lost. I wonder if she is thinking of him now.