Theresa, 63, raised her only daughter, Mary Lou, alone. Mary Lou grew into a kind, intelligent young woman with a promising future. However, at 21, she fell in love with Kang Jun, a man nearly twenty years older than her. Theresa worried about their age difference and the distance between them, but Mary Lou was determined to marry him. They married quietly, and just a month later, Mary Lou left for South Korea. At the airport, mother and daughter shared an emotional embrace, unaware of how much their lives were about to change.

After Mary Lou left, Theresa waited for her daughter to return, but the years passed without a visit. First came one year, then five, and eventually twelve. Their only regular contact was a yearly money transfer accompanied by the same brief message: “Mom, take care of yourself. I’m doing well.” Although the financial support helped Theresa, the repeated words offered little comfort. She began to wonder whether her daughter was truly happy or simply hiding something behind those reassuring messages.

They spoke through a video call only once. Mary Lou looked familiar, but her expression seemed different, as though her thoughts were somewhere else. When Theresa asked why she never came home, her daughter gave a short answer: “I’m very busy.” The conversation left Theresa with more questions than answers, and the distance between them felt greater than ever.

Despite the loneliness, Theresa continued her traditions, especially at Christmas. Every year, she prepared Mary Lou’s favorite meal and set a place for her at the table, hoping that one day her daughter would walk through the door. But the chair remained empty, and the years continued to pass.

Finally, after twelve years of waiting, Theresa decided she could no longer live with unanswered questions. Although she had never traveled abroad before, she secretly bought a ticket to South Korea. She was determined to find her daughter and discover the truth behind those familiar words: “I’m doing well.”