Hiroshima | A Tale of Loss, Tragedy, and a warning for the future.

Teaser

Three girls walk through ruination; everything that once was a vibrant and thriving city is now nothing but rubble, ash, and flames. The smoke is thick and chokes the lungs of the survivors, including the three girls. One of them is young, no more than fourteen--- the second is sixteen and is the elder sister of the younger. The woman accompanying them was a humble cafe owner in her early thirties--- she helped the two sisters through the city.

It was only minutes ago: First, a fierce tsunami of light washed over the city as if the sun had just fallen to the center of the metropolis. Then, only a few seconds later, a violent and unstoppable gust of wind stronger than hurricanes and tornadoes swept through the city like a wave over a sandcastle on the beach. Then, there was silence.

Moriko, the youngest member of the trio, struggles to stay on her feet. She's feeling lightheaded and has an unbearable pain in her gut as if she was about to puke. She's also tasting something metallic in the air, somewhat like iron, and she's been tasting it since the strange light washed over her and her sister. Kazumi, Moriko's sister, supported her on her shoulder with the aid of Shigeko.

The air is thick with smoke, like a dense blizzard. The smoke creates a deep haze that blocks most of the sunlight, casting an eerie darkness on the ruined city like twilight. The only thing providing some illumination to the ruined landscape were fires that were burning and growing with unstoppable appetite.

The trio walks past many infernos, radiating an intense heat that feels like it could cook their skin. In Moriko's peripheral vision, she sees a body in the rubble--- a woman, seemingly elderly, her face blackened and gaunt, her eyes pale and smoking like hard-boiled eggs. A gasp escaped Moriko's shocked voice, earning a reaction from Shigeko.

"Shhh... don't look, just keep your eyes forward and keep moving," Shigeko spoke softly into Moriko's ear, turning her head forward with a gentle push. Tears streamed down Moriko's face as she kept her eyes forward; the image of that burning woman's face will forever linger in her memory.

A few moments later, a mighty typhoon was unleashed upon the city, sweeping across the land, causing more destruction and flinging debris into the air. The intense winds deliver more oxygen to the fires, causing them to grow and spread like living beings, mercifully burning everything and everyone in their wake.

The trio gets down onto the ground and tries to flatten themselves, but they get pushed by the monstrous winds. Shigeko grabs a street lamp post for support and the two youngers with her hold onto Shineko for dear life. Like leaves in the wind, debris flies over the trio, and much of it misses them by meters.

In the fog came a man who walked towards the lamppost. He was struggling to stand up in the winds, but he was getting closer and closer to the lamppost. Suddenly, and without warning, a large piece of debris carried by the wind struck the man with so much force it lifted him off the ground and launched him into the air, his broken body quickly disappearing into the fog without a scream.

"Hang on, sister! Hang on!" Kazumi directed Moriko as she screamed in terror. They held each other's hands and began reciting Buddhist prayers for their safety as the wind continued to roar through the ruined city of the ruined city of Hiroshima.

Full Story Coming Soon!