A Profound Sadness
Even in the dark, she could still see him: a lone figure, perched atop the rocks facing the sea.
She hurried to him, climbing the rocks with some difficulty. In spite of the noises she made, he showed no sign of being aware of her presence behind him. She was trying to catch her breath when she heard him sniff. Instinctively, she reached forward, hugging him. He sat stiffly, but she felt the trembling of his body. He turned his head to her, and in the cold darkness of the night, she felt his warm tears on her neck. His body shook as he cried silently. She pulled him even closer.
Till he fell asleep. Till the sun rose.
“What’s your plans for Christmas? Are you going home? If you aren’t, you can come along with me. My hometown’s pretty nice with the snow you know.”
“I am going to Japan.”
“Really? What for?”
“You should go to Japan someday.”
“Maybe I should. They say Tokyo is a great place.”
“Tokyo? Please…You should see Niigata in winter. Everything’s so white and pretty. Perfect for a wedding. Better yet, make it on Christmas.”
As the plane began its descent, he realised that he was in Japan at last.
He didn’t really know what she was saying sometimes. Especially when she started speaking in her native Japanese. But somehow, as if words were superfluous, they understood each other.
“Hey. 4 years is a long time. Far too long. It just isn’t fair to you. Let’s go back to being friends, ok?”
“Un.”
“I am sorry.”
“Mmmm. It’s better this way I guess…Will you miss me?” she asked, grinning.
“Of course…not!”
Christmas Eve in a small hotel room. She used to say Nakashima Mika’s Yuki no Hana sound especially nice in Takashimaya Square on Christmas Eve. But he somehow found himself hoping that Christmas wouldn’t come, that time would forever be frozen by this frigid cold.
In his second year in London, she wrote, saying that she was going back to Japan with her family, and that he would be welcomed any time. But he couldn’t go away then.
In spite of it all, Christmas came. It was indeed a white wedding. He watched as they recited their vows, and exchanged rings, before kissing tenderly. Like the rest of the guests, he applauded.
She smiled radiantly. She looked so happy. A tear rolled down his face.
She hurried to him, climbing the rocks with some difficulty. In spite of the noises she made, he showed no sign of being aware of her presence behind him. She was trying to catch her breath when she heard him sniff. Instinctively, she reached forward, hugging him. He sat stiffly, but she felt the trembling of his body. He turned his head to her, and in the cold darkness of the night, she felt his warm tears on her neck. His body shook as he cried silently. She pulled him even closer.
Till he fell asleep. Till the sun rose.
“What’s your plans for Christmas? Are you going home? If you aren’t, you can come along with me. My hometown’s pretty nice with the snow you know.”
“I am going to Japan.”
“Really? What for?”
“You should go to Japan someday.”
“Maybe I should. They say Tokyo is a great place.”
“Tokyo? Please…You should see Niigata in winter. Everything’s so white and pretty. Perfect for a wedding. Better yet, make it on Christmas.”
As the plane began its descent, he realised that he was in Japan at last.
He didn’t really know what she was saying sometimes. Especially when she started speaking in her native Japanese. But somehow, as if words were superfluous, they understood each other.
“Hey. 4 years is a long time. Far too long. It just isn’t fair to you. Let’s go back to being friends, ok?”
“Un.”
“I am sorry.”
“Mmmm. It’s better this way I guess…Will you miss me?” she asked, grinning.
“Of course…not!”
Christmas Eve in a small hotel room. She used to say Nakashima Mika’s Yuki no Hana sound especially nice in Takashimaya Square on Christmas Eve. But he somehow found himself hoping that Christmas wouldn’t come, that time would forever be frozen by this frigid cold.
In his second year in London, she wrote, saying that she was going back to Japan with her family, and that he would be welcomed any time. But he couldn’t go away then.
In spite of it all, Christmas came. It was indeed a white wedding. He watched as they recited their vows, and exchanged rings, before kissing tenderly. Like the rest of the guests, he applauded.
She smiled radiantly. She looked so happy. A tear rolled down his face.
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