I'd lost people before, but this felt different. Hiroko had been more than just someone I knew. She'd been a mentor and a mother figure in the short time I'd known her.
"When a dragon kneels, he owns the floor."
Her past words cut through me like a knife.
In my mind, I could see her saying it. See the way her eyes had sparkled with wisdom.
I turned away from Kaoru and Yoichi and walked over to the window.
The sun was almost down now. The sky was streaked with pink and orange, and the ocean stretched out endlessly in front of me.
Hurry up, Kenji. I want to be in your arms and just truly know that you are safe.
After a while, the air in the kitchen transformed into a symphony of scents—earthy root vegetables, the sharp tang of miso, the clean smell of steamed rice.
My mouth watered.
I thought of Hiroko again.
I didn’t even get to say goodbye. That feels so wrong. . .
I wanted to cry some more, but wouldn’t let myself. I had to keep myself together.
I turned back to Kaoru. "Can you bring me a book from my bedroom? It’s called, ‘When the Dragon Swallowed the Moon.’"
He bobbed his head. "I'll get it."
“Thanks.”
He left the kitchen, and I sat down at the small table near the window.
Yoichi appeared beside the table and set a glass of water next to my wine without saying a word. Then he went back to the wall.
How did he know I needed this?
“Thank you.”
“No problem, Nyomi.”
I took a sip and then thought about Kaoru bringing meWhen the Dragon Swallowed the Moon.
I took another sip.
Yeah. That’s what I need.
Books had always comforted me.
When I was a kid and my mother was too drunk to notice I existed, I'd lose myself in stories.
When I was older and the world felt too heavy, I'd disappear into someone else's life for a while.
Into their problems.
Their love.
Their victories.
That's why I wrote.
