“The Tourist”

Sohee, who lives in Seoul, endured the little boy's runny nose and scream. She had to get through it. Because she wanted to go on a trip to New York after graduating from college. Sohee had a part-time job taking care of neighbor's six-year-old child during her last summer vacation. Sohee wanted to get out of this freaking city, Seoul, the schizophrenic, dirty, despicable city of K-pop where an average of 37.5 people commit suicide a day, to Bushwick, New York, where art and freedom, notions and tolerance diverge.

Sohee had been working for two months and saved the desired amount of money. On the day She quit her part-time job, little boy, he said, touching Sohee's collarbone. Despite the weather approaching 40-degrees, the six-year-old did not leave Sohee's lap.

"Can I touch your boobs?" 

Sohee's hollow cheeks were as empty as her bank account balance. Tired, Sohee did not restrain the child's sexual touch; She just said, "Goodbye."

Sohee headed to New York City that winter. Her accommodation was in a small alley in Williamsburg.  No one spoke to Sohee, she was lonely, but at the same time, she was about to cry at the freedom for the first time in her life.

Sohee was on her way out of a record shop after seeing Marina Palso's performance. It was 9pm and she had to cross the tunnel. At the end of the crooked bridge, her cozy, artsy Airbnb awaited her.

A man approached from across the underpass in a 1920 slick back cut and a silk black shirt. Sohee tried to pass by him without hesitation, as no one had ever been aware of her, an Asian tourist. The man called out to her. Sohee turned to face him.

A 1920s-style modern boy asked Sohee, "Would you like a drink?" Sohee shook her head. Then the man unbuckled his belt with the long, H-shaped buckle.

He took off pants and wrapped his hand around genitals. Sohee unable to move, as she did with a six-year-old boy in Korea. A man masturbated carefully and meticulously in front of Sohee. When he was done, Sohee couldn’t help but smile awkwardly, like her awkward English skill. Sohee walked past the man and left the tunnel, and a panic attack hit.

Wherever Sohee was, she was a tourist.