The summer I turned twenty three I decided to teach English in South Korea. My boyfriend had just broken up with me and it seemed like the only thing to do.

Where we lived in Nebraska was called ‘The Between’ because it filled the great emptiness that divided civilization. There was a city three hours north from us and two hours south. East and West? That was just more Between; rolling lands of cornfield oceans just swimming with cattle. It was quiet.

Until it wasn’t.