Packing Panic

The inner linings of my suitcase smelled of another abroad business trip. I scoured through my closet, trying to distinguish the newly bought from the old and unwashed. A hazelnut jacket with its fuzzy fur collar was stripped off its hanger and flung onto the mountain of flannels and stockings that I would hopefully make use of in the chilly winds of Seoul.

Then I made haste to the bathroom. Unopened bottles labelled with fancy brands decorate a shelf above the dripping sink, watching me grab my everyday, almost empty container of shampoo. This I stuffed inside a ziploc bag with a toothbrush whose bristles had seen better days, and scented toothpaste that filled my mouth with the artificial taste of strawberries. Lotions and such had to be regretfully stored away for a journey that didn't require light packing.

A clock ticking somewhere in the house echoed off the bare walls, bringing awareness to the few hours that stood between now and the flight. The laptop in my hands felt like an unnecessary piece of bulk taking up my time, but was hauled into its dull grey leather casing regardless. The stacks of documents that were snatched up next were initially all the same, covered from top to bottom in tiny font. Yet their paper-thickness, their pristine condition made them much too fragile to be handled too roughly.

In front of a wood-framed mirror, I fashion my loose ginger waves into a tight bun and fight with my bangs to get them to stay down. My lips are tinted a deep shade of maroon to coordinate with the button-down shirt I’m wearing under my mother’s old floral scarf - a sliver of my childhood. The flowy skirt ends just below my knees and fits comfortably around my waist. The breath mint I’m sucking on gives my gums a cooling sensation.

Five chimes fill my ears. The open front door lets orange light flood through, falling across the luggage I’ve just pulled up to the entrance, where the rumbling engine of a taxi awaits me. While the driver helps me load the trunk, I slip into my pointed toe heels. Korea, here I come.