In the past summer of Korea, issues were covered by another. Above all, I clearly remember the news in August, that university students were in custody by protesting the discharge of Fukushima radioactive water at the Embassy of Japan. They sure were brave to struggle until the end (unlike me, who felt helpless and resigned to the government's decision), but I couldn't rid my mind that they were placing themselves an unfair and hopeless fight in the first place. What could possibly be that they held on to, even when their justice was defeated?

"I live with hope," said Kim Bok-dong, a human rights activist and victim of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery, at the last moments of her life. It was that plain old ‘hope’ that the one who crusaded her whole life held on to till the end. To be honest, I found it hard to agree with her. Just as we can't live on bread that we don't have, I thought it is only torture to live on a vague future. However, I learned from following these students that the hope she mentioned was not something that comes ‘as a result.’ After the story of the students was spread to the world, citizens took to the streets to speak with one voice. As nameless strangers, they chanted the same slogans and were willing to show consideration and kindness for each other. Because they had each other to hold on for today, people didn't lose their expectations for the victory of tomorrow. For those in the lonely fight, hope was already there in the name of those who believed in a better future together.

It must be very lonesome to light the lamp alone for a future yet to come. So we have to trust the people who are by our side in the moment, and hold them tight. I pray that we, who are hoping for a brighter future, are not lonely today.