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"Good morning," I say, offering her a nod as I head for my desk.
"Kondo-san, wait!" As I turn to look, slate grey and polka dots fill my vision. "A woman left this here for you, early this morning."
My mind short-circuits.
Sachiko is staring at me, arm extended, holding my umbrella.
"She... did?" I ask.
"She?" Sachiko asks. "Is she an acquaintance of yours?"
"Well, no... that is to say... we met briefly. She works at the bookstore near the train station. Yoshida-san sent me to retrieve..." I accept my umbrella from her, noticing how my hand lightly trembles. Hidden from sight, deep within my body, a tidal wave begins to swell. "T-that's very gracious of her. I should send a Thank You note."
"Well you're in luck!" Sachiko says, smiling broad enough to show teeth. "Just a moment, just a moment..." She picks through the papers atop her desk for many painful seconds before chirping, loud enough for dogs to hear, "Ah, here it is!"
It is a business card, jet black. As soon as Sachiko turns away, too concerned with organizing the calendar on her computer to notice how my knuckles burn white as I hold the card with clenching fingers.
Her name, in kanji, is printed in an only slightly lighter shade of black, difficult to make out without turning the card to the light. Instead, what catches my eye is the stark white print that reads, in English block lettering:
"Tomo Minatsuki."
And beneath that, in simple script:
"Labrys Books; Proprietor"
Inside me, the tidal wave breaks ground upon my hollow shore.
- COMMENTS
Cupertino345about 1 year agoI was absorbed by the feelings expressed in this story. The lonliness of the woman's life and the buoyancy of the hope that awakens memories of a lost and forbidden love. I wish for her all of the happiness she is brave enough to pursue. Thank you for an excellent story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Areala-chanabout 4 years agoAfter enjoying this story for, like, the fifth or sixth time, I'm still gobsmacked it has as few comments as it does. Not even twenty in four years? Well, yes, now it has twenty, but still. Love this just as much as I did the first time. Kondo and Minatsuki forever! <3
Anonymousover 5 years agoThe writing in this is absolutely gorgeous. Strikingly good prose. The italicized bits about "the beast" are phenomenal.
ElectricBlueover 5 years agoand it's still as beautiful as it was then.
