A Demon's Lapse

The waves crashed one on top of the other. Endless waters from around Earth met at these shores. Just like her and Kiyohira, from different parts of the world, they had met here too. On these very shores. The soft breeze brushed against Nora's skin. Her long hair down flowed softly in the wind and her brown skin was shining in the sun. Her dark brown eyes looked at the horizon and took in the expansiveness of the world around. In her hands lay a bouquet of carnations, all white. She walked over to the abandoned house on Kiyohira's island. She was alone. Flowers and tributes were neatly placed on a makeshift shrine at the door of the house. Slowly kneeling down, she placed the bouquet in an empty spot.

It was a while before she began to speak, deciding what words to say. Then, they came.

"Hey, Kiyohira," she paused feeling somewhat awkward. She bit her lip and continued.

"I hope you're doing well, wherever you may be. I was thinking about the first time we met, how scared I was of you, but even then I sensed a sadness in your eyes. I won't lie, I did hate you at first but now I recognize that you were just hurt. Somewhere along the way, you were on my mind all the time."

Nora put her hand over heart, attempting to quell the emerging ache.

"I had to beat my pride and finally admit to myself that I truly and hopelessly fell for you. I just wish you were still here to hold me but I know that won't ever happen."

She gulped. It felt like a heavy stone was passing through her throat.

"You were my first love. I never thought that it could happen to me. I wanted to thank you for saving me countless times. Even at the end, you saved me again and everyone else. It pains me to see how our time was so short. I wish we were able to be together longer. I wanted to talk about Pablo with you and other poets we liked!"

Nora paused. Her lips quivered and voice trembled,

"You truly made me feel like a woman, so thank you for that."

By then the floodgates had opened and Nora wept uncontrollably. Her hand clawed into the dirt below, reaching for something. Reaching for relief. For deliverance. Her shoulders sunk down, her composure utterly broken. Still, she managed to utter the next words with all her might.

"This will be my last goodbye. I hope you are resting peacefully, finally free from the pain you carried all by yourself. I will never forget you. I will always love you."

Tears streamed down her face, falling from her cheeks onto the ground. Birds sang in harmony with the rustling leaves, a natural orchestra.

It was time to go now.

Back at the mansion, Hideyoshi, Rosie and Matsuda were waiting. Her sister hugged her tightly, running her gentle hands all over her back.

Nora looked over at Hideyoshi.

After the incident in Singapore, Hideyoshi apologized to Nora and tried making amends. Although she was angry at him, she also understood his predicament. It wouldn't be easy but she didn't want to have any more bad memories associated with the Kimura family.

She nodded at him with a faint smile. She turned her gaze over to Matsuda.

"Matsuda, thank you for everything," she said, hugging him. It felt like he was the father or uncle-figure she never had. He wasn't much for words but reciprocated.

Rosie looked at her sister and said, "Let's go home, sis."

Epilogue

Finals week was already here and Nora was flabbergasted at how time flew by. Nora sat underneath a tree and took a bite of her salad as she and her classmates were having lunch, unwinding from the long semester behind them on the university lawn. Faint rays of sunlight peeked through the shade. Soon all these leaves would die and fall, marking the end of another season. Of another year. Her friends were rambunctiously laughing and joking when she got a call, snapping her back to reality.

"What's up, sis," asked Nora.

"Nor', there's something here for you, a package," Rosie answered.

"Cool, I ordered something online but I didn't think it was going to arrive so soon."

"No, it's not that. It's from Hideyoshi."

Nora raised an eyebrow. After ending the call, her curiosity remained unshakeable. What could Hideyoshi possibly have sent her? Butterflies overtook her stomach. Could it be something about Kiyohira? No way!

She hadn't heard from him ever since the last time she was on the island. Trapped between the uneasiness of wanting or not wanting to know, she wasn't sure if she wanted to find out what it was. Her heart was still broken over Kiyohira's loss but perhaps it was a chance for closure. For healing.

As she put her phone away it began to buzz once more. Rosie again? No, it was Hideyoshi...