That Sad Story: Broken Vow

Faith

Str.06.23.15.13.34

It's been five years.

Breaking news: Flight 007 was reported to crash in the vast ocean of the Pacific on its way to Tokyo International Airport. 250 passengers were in it including the famous actors Daiki Arioka and Yamada Ryosuke. Until now, a search and rescue operation was being conducted and no news on the passengers was released yet.

Five years have passed and I still hoped for his return.

I rushed towards mom. I was trembling with fear; I'm feeling anxious and impatient. "Mama, what happened? Have they said anything?"

Mama looked at me with the same fear in her eyes, and then her tears started to fall. "What shall we do? He would be okay. He would be, right? He has to be."

I hugged her tight. I don't know what to tell her. I'm robbed of the right words to say. "I'm praying, ma. His son will need him so he should be fine and come back to us."

I kept that hope for five years.

"Mommy, where is papa?"

I knelt to see his face. "Papa is somewhere we can't go to but he will still be here." I pointed to his heart. "Because we love him."

It was long. Every day I check my phone. Hoping that someone would tell me good news. But, I know every story has two sides. Every step, I look at the door, keen to any sound of homecoming. Every day.

But five years have gone by.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but it has been a week. If he ever was washed away on any shore, news could have spread considering that he's a celebrity but there is nothing. I don't want to say this but ma'am maybe he is already dead."

And now, all that is left was his love and the love for him by the people whom he inspired.

"Ryuu, it's time to go to school! What are you doing there?" I called on my son while fixing his bag. We often go out together. He goes to school and I go to work. He's five years old and is already in Kindergarten.

"Wait! I'm coming!"

"Mom will be late, honey. Come here now!"

He rushed to me, holding a paper which looked like a card. Maybe he's making a letter for his father again. "What's that?" I asked.

He hid it in his bag. "Nothing, mama. Let's go, you'll be late for work."

He marched through the open door as I followed him. We'll be taking the bus today because my car was still in the shop. There was something wrong with it and I can't pinpoint it.

"Wait for me, Ryuu!"

He stopped near the gate as if he had seen something that made him curious. "Mama, there's a man outside our gate."

I rushed towards him and saw the man he was pertaining to. I felt nervous and excited at the same time. This man was the person I hired to continue looking for my husband. He's been looking for more than two years now. I bowed as he bows.

"Takato-san, can we talk about it somewhere else, after I send him to school?"

"I understand ma'am. I have my car with me. I can give you a ride."

"Sorry for the trouble."

"It's okay, ma'am."

That trip to Ryuu's school, I can feel my heart pounding fast. I am excited. I am nervous. What news will I hear from him? I don't know what I'm really feeling.

"That's school! That's school!" Ryuu pointed to their school building. Takato parked the car near the building entrance. We went down and I watched him run inside. He was so happy. He has no idea that today his father's whereabouts might be known.