A Promised Journey

Choices Chances Changes

Standing in front of Tokyo Station, Jack was waiting for the coach to fetch him to Mount Fuji and when he reached Mount Fuji, he was deeply moved by the view of the mountain. The mountain was the highest mountain in Japan and also one of the most beautiful mountain.

Even though he did not climb up the mountain due to his old age and lack of exercise, he visited Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine which was located at the foot of Mount Fuji; and the Fuji Five Lake. He stand at the front of Mount Fuji, thinking of his gorgeous, lovely and sociable wife.

"Adeline, I am here, under Mount Fuji... your dream, I have fulfilled it... I miss you so much, do you know that......We promised that we will hold our hands till old... we promised that before... "

Jack thought while looking at the peak of Mount Fuji as a silent tear fall from his cheek. He wipe away his tears and started walking.

After taking multiple pictures of its surrounding and the mountain, he decided to return back to Tokyo so to buy some souvenirs for his family members.

Traveling by railway train back to Tokyo Station, he was sitting beside an old man who was around his age but maybe older. He settle down and start taking out his camera, hoping to snap scenery as the train goes by.

However, after 30 minutes of traveling on train, the train suddenly stopped in the middle of nowhere causing the passengers to start panicking.

Jack do not know what to do as the announcer is speaking in English and Japanese. He freaked out and started fiddling with his necklace. "Adeline, what should I do?? If you were here, you would definitely understand what they are talking about and help me calm down."

He hesitantly ask the passengers for help as he was not a sociable person. He asked in simple English but none of the passengers could understand what he was saying. He was getting frustrated but there's nothing he could do.

He decided to walk to another cabin to ask for help, and as he started to freak out, a teenage boy walked up to him and calm him down. He can speak Chinese! He bring Jack to where his family was which is at the front of the cabin.

They explain to him about the train breakdown and that they will continue operating in a few minutes. He heave a sigh of relief and sit down beside the family.

"Where you from, young man?" The grandmother of the family asked in Chinese.

"Singapore."

"Oh, beautiful place, we are from Malaysia, Johor." The grandmother replied while smiling.

Jack smile and nodded his head before continue fiddling with his tube-shaped necklace. The grandmother saw his action and question him.

"The necklace, if I'm not wrong, this is an ash holder necklace. I have seen one before, is that someone you love? My husband died 10 years ago, due to old age, have been thinking of him since then." The grandmother look out of the window at the scenery, looking as if she was thinking back on her past with her ex-husband. Seeing that the grandmother told him her own story, he decided to share his own too.

"My wife, Adeline, died from heart disease a year ago, she was such an angel, but yet died so early."

Jack continue telling the grandmother his own story, from when he met Adeline to when he found out she was diagnosed with coronary artery disease and that he came to Japan for the sake of his wife.

Adeline was the daughter of a famous merchant while Jack was the only son of a mini-market owner. At first when they wanted to get married, Jack thought that Adeline's father will not allowed, but surprisingly, he blessed their marriage and even make their marriage a grand event.