Chinese Lanterns

2. Murder Under The Bridge

     Mom was alone after work for lunch, and ate where she always did for her lunch break. Eleven years ago when I was five, was a usual day. The clouds where towering with rain and thunder, while Mom stayed warm and dry under the sturdy old wooden bridge above the river. It looked ancient, as if it has been there for over one hundred years. The color of the wood had faded to a light brown, and the nails where orange and brown with rust.
     It's a beautiful place, and makes you feel safe and guarded from the weather. She would always sit on the same flat somber stone, right next to the gleaming water of the strong current. The river ran through the small country side of Kyoto, Japan. It was a narrow river, mainly used for fishing and swimming, and the crystal clear water made it so you can see all the silver minnows and colorful coy fish.
     Mom would take Father and I to the bridge to swim every summer. In fact, we would go every weekend in summer. The water was warm, it would cool you off from the hot air. It was always cloudy here and there, and the clouds seemed to lock the humidity into the city, which meant hot and excellent for swimming. It all felt just right.
     Friday, three months after I turned five, my mom was on her break down under the bridge. It was a usual Friday, the last day of work until her (three week) summer vacation.
     She called Dad to bring me to the bridge to swim all together. I got my swimsuit on and walked a short way down to the bridge with Dad from my apartment. Dad carried me on his shoulders all the way there. He set me down and I immediately ran into Moms arms. I was so happy to see her after a long day. We ate lunch and got into the river. We swam with the golden coy fish in the crystal blue water.
     I got out of the water and asked if I could go to the bathroom. Dad took me to the nearby woods and waited for me to finish my business. We were heading back to the river when we heard loud, frightful screams. Dad told me to stay at the edge of the woods, as he left me and charged towards the ancient bridge.
     I cannot describe the sounds we heard, or the sights we saw. But I can tell you, that was the day, my marvelous Mother, was murdered.