Janain Dakara Ne - Okaasan No Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki

When Yuki woke up an hour later, she found her son’s arm linked through hers. She kissed the top of his head. He pretended to stay asleep.

One winter afternoon, Haruki came home to find the house silent. No smell of miso soup. No laundry folding on the sofa. Just a note on the table: “Gone to the hospital. Grandma fell. Back late. Rice is in the warmer.” okaasan no koto nanka zenzen suki janain dakara ne

He found her asleep in a plastic chair outside the ICU, her hand still clutching a crumpled handkerchief. Her coat was thin. Her lips were pale. When Yuki woke up an hour later, she

“…The rice was good.”

Yuki smiled. She didn’t say a word.