Short story and long story

After several years, I went to Seoul and met up with a friend. She showed up wearing her daughter’s clothes—something you wouldn’t expect from someone her age.
“Well, the older you get, the younger you should dress, right? She’s so slim, she can pull anything off.”
But she wasn’t alone. A man awkwardly followed her in. What’s this now?

I looked him over from head to toe, silently asking, “Who is he?”
She said, “We met nearby and were going to say goodbye, but somehow we ended up here.”
Judging by their behavior, they seemed to be more than just friends. But the man didn’t leave a good impression. I’d heard that many married women in Seoul had lovers… Was this one of those situations? I stared out the window, disinterested. Maybe she sensed it—soon after, she sent him away.

“What’s going on? Did you get divorced?”
“Divorced? Well… not exactly.”
“If you were going to meet someone else, shouldn’t he at least be better than your husband? Honestly, he’s a step down.”
“My car broke down on the highway and he kindly helped me. We had coffee afterward and got close. He’s more romantic than he looks.”
“What’s wrong with your husband? He’s successful and dependable.”
“He’s like a long novel—too drawn out and boring. You know how short stories are much more thrilling to read.”
“Wow, listen to you talk!”

It seemed she thought she could show off her free-spirited side to me—someone visiting from America—because I’d understand. We grew up hearing that America is the land of freedom. And in a way, it’s true—no one stares or meddles in your business here, even when you’re walking down the street. But is it really that easy to become a person who’s truly free?

To be financially free, you need skills to earn enough to live without money worries. To be free from the law, you must follow it well. You need to speak English fluently if you want freedom from language barriers in the U.S. And to maintain a trusting marriage, you need to build credibility with your husband. To avoid being the subject of gossip, you must watch your words and actions.

Even a duck, floating peacefully on the water, is paddling furiously beneath the surface. Isn’t it the same with freedom? You have to work hard for it. Unless, of course, you let go of the desire to be free in the first place. Running around with a “short story” might just become another form of bondage.

Eventually, my friend returned to her long, boring “novel” of a husband. When she later visited New York with him, her expression looked tired and bored—but like that duck gliding across the surface, she looked calm and at peace.