Kohana's Journey

Night vision

Kohana was really scared about her dreams becoming a reality. She never thought that day would have come. It was a remote possibility or something unreacheable before, but now her point of view changed so fast she needed some moments to think about it deeply.

After she went to the temple and she left there one hundred crabs, she layed down in her bed staring at the ceiling questioning herself what she was doing. Her parents had already gone to bed and she had not seen them since the moment she had left home earlier. She didn't know what they thought about the cruise she was about to jump on and if they changed her mind. Maybe it was all a crazy idea after all. "What is wrong with me?" She whispered to herself.

Couldn't she just desire for a simple life, get married and have children? No way ! Holding her fist in the air she got up and went closer to the mirror. She put her hands alongside the body and she breathed deeply.

She looked at herself in a way she had never experienced before. She saw a young woman with asian traits, but her eyes were bright and shining. Her red hair fell gently as a waterfall on her naked shoulders.The little freckless on her face were still imperfections in her opinion and her skinny body made her feel uncomfortable. The little breast she never liked gave her the sensation of being useless. She hated so much what she saw she dressed again and got ready for bed. After that she felt better and she reminded herself about what she wanted to accomplish, so she fell asleep in no time.

During the following days Kohana prepared her luggage. Her clothes were like stardust all over the chamber. First they were messy and scattered all around like it was a galaxy then they were gathered and put in separated piles. They were clean and they smelled like soap. As if they were planets, they took a shape and a direction. Some of them were put in the wardrobe again, some in the luggage.

"Bring only what you need." Said Master Gondra.

"Where do you think you are going?" Asked Kohana's mother.

Meanwhile she folded paper sourrounded by all her clothes.

Eleven, fourteen, twenty, forty-five...

The more she folded the more her train of thoughts got derailed by her focus. She was so concentrated she had no time for insecurity.

"What exactly should I find?" She asked.

"Just enjoy the company of strangers, move along the rhythm of life and you'll be richer than ever." Answered Master Gondra.

Twenty-five, sixty-seven, eighty-eight...

She started to see some progress with her behaviour. Her parents were less hostile "because when you cospire to help the universe, it will send you strenght back" as Master Gondra had told her.

"So you are determined to leave for this trip after all. Can I help you pack your things?" Asked Lin.

"During the trip you must seek an answer to the sun goggles I gave you." Gondra was telling her daily.

At night time Kohana was meditating around the two pillars that holded the shintoist sign, the torii.

That place was up on a hill and people reached it to light an incense or bring some flowers to the world of the deads. Instead of giving energy to the place the girl was asking for the wisdom that could lead her through her trip and find out who she really was and where she belonged. She delicately put her paper creation all around her and she started talking or singing to them. Luckily nobody was going there late at night. The crabs wanted to dance with her and they moved shy to the rhythm of her songs. Cold blown of winds raised from the east and it felt like a flute was playing.