Outside it was cold. Smoky clouds moved callously in front of the hard-faced moon, dropping icy crystals of liquid upon the shivering earth below. Some of these crystals fell upon the stone tiled roof of a house, oriental in style and surrounding by blossoming cherry trees and shimmering koi ponds. The rain streamed through the ruts on the roof and fell into oblivion lit up like spirits with an inner glow provided by the downcast moon.
Inside, it was warm. A fire crackled hungrily in a recently swept stone fireplace, and although it was dimming from starvation, it still provided a sufficient amount of heat. The swaying flames also caste a warm red glow, the only source of light in the room. Directly across the room from the dying fire sat a clock. It was tall, almost touching the ceiling, and regarded the room with its ancient face set in blackened wood with a look of mock. It’s two hands steadily and cruelly ticked off the precious minutes, moving altogether painfully too fast and too slow. It was almost midnight.
She sat on her knees, her forehead pressed against the cold glass, her breath creating fog that blocked out the image of the diamond raindrops. Her face was slightly reflected in the window against the dark background of night. She had an oval face, with pale skin and smooth features. Her eyes were darkly lashed, and were a deep, dark blue, such as seen in sapphires. They looked at the world with a guarded expression, wanting to be hopeful, yet knowing that it would be less painful to accept the truth. The hope was like the fire. Her lips were full and slightly parted, as if wanting to speak or cry out. Her dark, ebony hair fell in cascades around her shoulders and body. It shined silver with the moonlight. She wore a dark blue kimono that matched her eyes, and a silver sash to match the moon. Embroidered in silver thread were leaves and vines.
She showed no sign of tension, no sign of distress. The only thing that gave her away was the tightly clutched piece of paper in her hands.

Dong…dong…dong…dong…
The dark, deep sound of the clock echoed throughout the room. The fire had finally eaten away its last bit of life, and now was reduced to glowing, sorrowful embers. A chill started to leak into the room, and the warm red light of the fire was replaced by the hard, cruel light of the moon.
Slowly, she raised her head from the icy glass and gazed at the wooden clock with a look that lacked interest. As the last sound died away in the silence, her look shifted to sudden and shocked knowing. Her whole body went tight, and it seemed as if eternity would pass before a breath was taken. Her hand clutching the paper shook with a sudden violence, then abruptly relaxed, letting the crumpled note fall gravely to the ground. She drew in a ragged breath, before releasing a pained and sorrowful cry that words had no meaning with which to describe it. Her sapphire eyes became overly bright, and soon, diamond rain started to spill out from her eyes and fall upon the floor. Her hands grasped around her stomach as she lurched forward against her knees, shaking, weak, her cries loud against the quiet music of the rain falling from the sky.
Still, the clock looked on with indifference, and continued to count away precious seconds, precious minutes of life and love. It could not understand why this woman had suddenly collapsed on the floor, or how her sorrow contained not one person’s grief, but two. Had the pale face of the clock been able to read the crumpled up paper that lay so alone on the floor, perhaps, it would have gained a small understanding as to why it had started to rain inside the warmth and safety of the house.


Dear Mali,

I am afraid I have been called out again, and must leave your warm embrace once more. Unlike the saying, I believe nothing is fair in love and war, and it seems unfair to me that I must leave you alone once again. I will miss you terribly, and will forever be gazing at the moon, wondering if you are looking at the same one. I suppose I should be used to this by now, used to leaving your arms in the middle of the night to fight some pointless battle, but it still pains me every time I leave your side. But once again, like always, I promise to return. July 16th is when I shall return to your side and the house that we built together. I know, it is a month away, but please, wait for me. I will be back on the 16th, not a stroke past midnight, and we will once again carry on with our blissful lives. I promise, just like I promised you that I would make that cherry wood cradle. Did you see it when you woke up? I hope that you liked it. When I get back, we can build another room together to prepare for our family. Hopefully this thought will bring you peace while I’m away. Once again, I leave, and miss you with all my heart.

Love forever,
Hatori