Five years have passed since my husband left me on the day of our wedding. And yet here I am being a single mother for years looking after my daughter who is just five years old. I wish I could see my husband again. I want to be with him but that is way beyond impossible. No matter what I do, where I go, I only think about him. I go to sleep every night hoping he’ll be next to me when I wake up— but no, that’s just my imagination. He did not come back, nor he ever will.
My daughter Nana hear me cry every night and I can feel that she’s worried. She maybe just five-years old but she’s so mature just like her father. As a mother, it’s my job to put all attention to my one and only child, and I never wanted her to see my feeble side. I always tried my best not to show how depressed I am because of my husband’s loss but Nana keeps on asking me why I cry so much. I cannot answer her. I never do. But she guesses.
Every morning I go to the shrine to pray. And I pray for one thing every time I come here. “Please let my Kenta be with our daughter at least for two days” I thought. I don’t believe in magic or spirits but now I wish for it to be real so I can use it to get my Kenta back...
I walked Nana to school and waved goodbye.
“Finish your Bento ok?”
“Ok mama”
I was walking down the streets remembering everything we did here in these old streets. This was where he scared me to death once on a Halloween night. That was so bloodcurdling that I didn’t talk to him for one week. “Good old days” I thought as I felt lonely. "I miss him so much."
A sudden cool breeze approached me as I was about to move forward. It kept pushing me back, “what’s going on?” I thought as a hasty frisson went down my spine. I was trying not to fall down while on the other hand the wind was trying to clutch me away. I kept hearing whispers but it wasn’t clear. Then, in a blink of an eye the wind stopped as if it never happened. “Weird” I thought. I felt dizzy after surviving that vast wind. I continued walking away from that place since it didn’t feel right to me. The further I went I kept on feeling like someone was following me. I took a quick glance over my shoulder to see a middle aged man following me, the faster I walked the closer he got. “KENTAAA!!!” I screamed. Suddenly someone grabbed me by my waist and pulled me to a side and the old man went flying away. I was shocked by what just happened. I rubbed my eyes as I stared into the man who was in the yukata. “That yukata…” I thought. “It’s, Kenta’s.”
I looked at the man who was wearing the grey Yukata. He turned as the wind blew gently and his eyes met mine. I stared at his big golden eyes as his brown hair danced along with the placid wind. Tears started to roll down my eyes seeing the sight of the person I love the most, my husband. He looked at me smiling innocently. I could say that he was as sad just as I was. Anyhow I couldn’t resist loping towards him and jumping into his wide-open arms. Then he wrapped his arms tightly around me, leaving no space between us.
“Kenta?” I looked up at him as the tears kept flooding down my cheeks like a perpetual fountain.
“Long time no see, Haruka”
“But how?”
“Remember you prayed for me to come back to life like almost every single day?”
“Did you appear because of my wish?”
“Yes, I’m here because of your wish.” he said as his lips slightly touched mine giving me a tender kiss.
It was sad, but I was happy for at least getting to spend time with him for hundred days. I could feel his warmth again and to devour his delicious dishes again. Nana was so happy that she finally could be with her dad. Since she hadn’t seen him or talked to him, God gave me that chance to spend time as a complete family.
“Dad, dad, so you met dead people?”
“Yea, I was not alone. I was actually with my dad.”
“You met your dad?”
“Yea”
“That’s so cool!”
“You know what’s more cool?” he paused for a moment and looked at me. “Come here honey.”
“For what? Can’t you see I’m cooking?” I said but ended up going to him anyway. Since I couldn't resist him. I went close to him and sat beside him, on his right side and Nana was on Kenta’s lap. She looked like she was overloaded with happiness. I laughed at how happy she looked.
“So daddy’s little princess, like I was saying, the coolest thing is that I get to be with you two—I would not honestly ask for more.” he said as he burst into tears.
“Kenta…” I was even sad to see my husband crying. I couldn’t take it. Nana hugged her daddy while she tried comforting him and then convinced him to stop crying. But Kenta was crying like a baby, he had always been like this. Even when we were in high school.
After some time, I thought about what would happen and it feared me. People had already seen him dropping Nana to school and also seen him going shopping with me—if he suddenly disappeared after his time was up how was I going to explain it to them? Anyways I walked to see Nana and she was playing with Kenta. “Oh, dear god how much I wished he was alive” I thought to myself as sorrowful tears ran down my cheek bones and absorbed my t-shirt. “It’s his last day…” 100th day—what’s going to happen afterwards… I looked at Kenta who was smiling at me, I ran towards him and jumped on to his arms.
“Kenta please don’t leave…please I beg you, stay Kenta, please stay.” I cried, unable to control my emotions. Yes, Nana was watching, and she was already ready for this day but I was not. How could I be ready?
“I had a time limit honey.”
“But why now? Can’t you ask for more time?” I asked looking up at his helpless eyes as tears started to fall like the pouring rain. He tightened his grip as he said.
“I’m sorry— Haruka… I wish to live longer with you but my fate won't let me. I’m sorry for leaving you.” He said. “Why? Why? Why?” I kept questioning myself unable to reply. “At least I can go back with no regrets… Because I could spend time with you as a complete family. And I got to see the baby we made together, and she’s going to be a fine young lady someday just like you. And also I’ll always be there with you…“ He said keeping his right hand on the left side of my chest. “Right here.” He gradually came closer and kissed me gently as he whispered “Goodbye Haruka” to my left ear. And our lips were parted. “I LOVE YOU MY QUEEN HARUKA AND MY PRINCESS NANA!!!” he said as he disappeared into thin air… and that was it-------
One month has passed, my neighbours, the convenience store owner, security guards and the teachers at Nana’s school have forgotten about Kenta. No one remembered him. It’s like he never existed! They have just forgotten about him, but never did I nor my daughter. He was always in my heart and I believe he’ll always be there for me and Nana. And that was my story of how I could live my life, twice, with my late husband for hundred days.
THE END...!
