A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea

by Masaji Ishikawa

Sometimes in life, you have to grab your so-called destiny by the throat and wring its neck.

tried to console her, but I could never find the words. They didn’t exist.

There’s a saying, “Sadness and gladness follow each other.” As I see it, people who experience equal amounts of sadness and happiness in their lives must be incredibly blessed. Some people lead a painful life full of nothing but sorrow. I should know.

These weren’t the wrinkles of old age; they were wrinkles of pain.

I don’t think I ever felt as close to her as I did that night. Her desperation, her fear, her exhaustion—all of it seeped through her thin clothes and straight into my heart.

But Young’s behavior reminded me what it was to be a human being. And I came to recognize that, no matter how difficult the reality, you mustn’t let yourself be beaten. You must have a strong will. You have to summon what you know is right from your innermost depths and follow it.

Kids are like that—they can break your heart with a smile.