Chapter 10

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"Are you two sure that you're going to move to the city?" Old lady Ma asked Iris and Kou, her young and newly married couple, neighbor who's currently packing their things. Old lady Ma, and a few other neighbors were helping the couple on packing their things because they've decided to go to the big city of Tokyo and leave this small town of Miyagi prefecture.

Their town is called Zao town. It's a small countryside town in Miyagi prefecture. Zao was embraced by the mountains and so, the townspeople were said to be surrounded by nature. Iris grew up in here and she developed her love for flowers because of the fact that she witnessed how beautiful, resilient and strong flowers are. And the air here in Zao always smells wonderful, it's a mix of all plants, flowers, and animals scents, that could calm a person's mind.

"Well, we really don't have any other choice but to go," Kou smiled with a bit of longing. "I've received a job offer there, and with a baby coming, I can't let such an opportunity slipped from my hands." He then put a hand on the small swell of his wife's belly who was sitting close to him.

"Yes, well, we do understand what you mean. But the air here in Zao was fresh and would really be of great help for your wife's pregnancy." Tsumugi, another neighbor in her mid 30s said.

"Yes it is, and I will surely miss it here, Tsumugi-san, but I don't want to be left here, while my husband works at a far away place. So, I could only come with him." Iris rubs her husband's hand that's on top of her belly.

"Just leave the youngsters be, you nosy people! You're all old fogeys already! We all know that their livelihood here was only enough to feed the both of them! They needed to get Kou into that job if they want to have enough food for their child!" Goro-san spoke up, he's actually the oldest person here in Zao, at the age of 82 he's still quite strong and healthy.

Kou and Iris chuckled at his comment while the others who's against the move just grumble at the old man before they all continue to pack. After that they bid their farewells and the two was now loading their luggages into the pickup truck that would send us to the train station.

The ride to the station was 40 minutes, it would take longer if there's traffic but since Zao was a small town traffic almost didn't exist. They arrived at the station on time and they're now on board to Tokyo.

After getting off the train they got on to a taxi to go to the apartment that Kou have bought with their life's savings just to have a house their little family could settle in to as soon as they moved here in the city.

Inside the cab Iris was awed at what she sees outside the window while they're on the move. She had her face almost glued to the window and like a child she moves from the left and the right window respectively. While Kou was laughing and looking at his wife full of love and warmth.

"Calm down, Iris, we can explore the entire Tokyo during our free times. We have all the time in the world after all," Kou was smiling as he gently holds his wife's hand to settle her down since they're in a moving car.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Iris bashfully sat down but she still looks outside completely fascinated by the tall buildings. "I just can't help it," she added, Kou laughed at her bashful nuances and the driver being a friendly one laughs along.

"First time? I can't blame you if that's the case. Tokyo is indeed a very beautiful and fascinating place for newcomers." The driver asked in which Iris felt more embarrassed to.

"I grew up here in Tokyo. I just moved to Miyagi after high school to help my grandparents on the family business," Kou answered with a bit of laughter then looked at his wife. "But it's a first for my wife since she grew up in Miyagi."

"Oho! So, does it mean you decided to stay there longer for love?" The driver teased and the couple couldn't hide their blush.

"You could say that," Kou said in an equally teasing tone. They continue to converse while they're on the road, but as they were all talking like they've been friends for so long something happened.

A truck who's on the opposite side of theirs have lost its control and is swerving towards their cab. With how fast it's running they weren't able to do anything to save themselves. Kou could only cover her wife with his body and kissed her, an attempt to assure her that everything will be fine. The truck collided on the car infront of their cab but because the impact was so great their cab got caught in the collision. The last thing Iris remember was her husband's smiling face and the loud noise from the collision.

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Back in Sendai Miyagi, Iris closed the book she's reading with a heavy sigh. This book was her daughter's second novel and she just finished reading the entire book. After a few seconds of contemplating she stood up and walked towards the cafe's display area where there's a bookshelf and put the book in there. She then, solemnly looked at the family picture that was displayed on top of the shelf. It's a picture with her and her husband along with her slightly swollen belly, she picked it up and brushed her finger gently to the faces of her deceased husband and her daughter, so gentle as if she was caressing a very fragile and precious thing.

"I really missed you, Kou... How I wish you were here, along with our daughter." She talked to her husband whom she knew won't ever be able to respond.

"Hanako..." She heaved a big sigh, "Her new book was out. It's just as fascinating and wonderful as the first one. But..." She put the frame back on its place and stood there just staring at it. "I feel like, there's something she's not telling me, or maybe something she can't tell me? I don't know, maybe if you were here, you'd know what to do. You always know how to make me feel calm and confident after all." She laughed dryly. "I guess I'll just wait for her to speak to me when she's ready..."

Just as she was about to go upstairs to their house, she heard her phone ringing, and she just realized that she left it on the table she was sitting in earlier. She went back to answer the phone without even looking at the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Mom," it was Hanako's voice, she was a little surprised at her call since it's quite late, looking at the clock on the cafe's wall she saw that it's passed eleven already. Hanako usually doesn't call at this time in fear of disrupting her mother's sleep.

"Hanako? What's wrong?" She asked worried.

"... Nothing. I just missed you and wanted to hear your voice." There was a long pause before Hanako answered and her answer made Iris more worried but she decided not to force her daughter to say something she's not ready to say yet.

"Okay sweetie, Mom will talk to you no matter how long you wanted," she said with a soothing voice.

"Thanks mom, C-can you..." Hanako hesitated,

"Can I?" Urged Iris.

"Can you sing me our lullaby mom? I seem to find it hard to sleep..." Hanako sounded hesitant and embarrassed at the same time but Iris just chuckled.

"Of course, now lie down on your bed and mom will sing for you," she said as she started humming first then she sang;

"Close your eyes, my little star,

You're safe right where you are.

No more echoes, no more fear,

Rest now, darling, I am near.

Drift where golden rivers flow,

Where the quiet moonlight glows.

Let the weight of sorrow fade,

Dream in light, be unafraid.

You are safe, my heart is strong,

Every shadow turns to song.

Hush, my dear, rest sweet and true,

Love will always cradle you."

After she finished singing she listened quietly for a few minutes on the other line but she could only hear soft breathing.

"Sweet dreams, my child."

*Notes*

- Sendai was the biggest town in Miyagi prefecture.

- Prefecture in Japan is what other countries calls as province.