Tears.

Date

It sometimes takes a while before the sky clears after the rain, says Kojima.

He stands at the sink and speaks nonchalantly, as if disregarding the listener’s boundaries of attention. The dishes are stacked high above the sink. It was a large dinner. Kojima washes each plate with machine-like precision; wash, scrub, rinse, repeat. The stack starts shrinking steadily.

Hayashi considered this, as he stood staring into the dark of night. Puddles glistened in the moonlight, and he thought that the rain had been too heavy. He considered asking the clouds why, but thought the better of it. If the clouds had been crying they would not be in the mood to answer. Perhaps another time.

A striped cat entered his line of vision, and looked him in the eyes even as he considered this. Good thinking, said the cat, as it pawed its way through the lawn and ended the literal catwalk with a flourish – giving Hayashi a pointed look before leaping over the fence and into the neighbouring property.

Hayashi nodded in agreement, as he mulled over how next to proceed. The moon looked a complete sphere that night, even as Hayashi looked on in silence. That it even rained was utterly inexplicable – the very predicament that Hayashi has found himself in. It was the first time in Hayashi’s life that it had rained during a night of the full moon.

You do know that you’ll never figure it out on your own, Hayashi. Why don’t you ask for help, said Kojima. Clean plates were now stacked neatly on the countertop. Only the utensils remained. Kojima looked over his shoulder, worried, but yet speaks still with a tone of nonchalance. No one can do it on their own, you know.

Kojima’s words went unheard and unheeded, as Hayashi continued negotiating the scene before him.

Perhaps, Hayashi thought, perhaps the clouds were crying for me.

A single tear leaked from the corner of his weary eyes.

A fork clanged on the ceramic floor.

More
articles

Dominate.

What difference will I now make?