Life Messenger • Part II • Okaeri

Okaeri

The plane arrived at precisely 7:53 a.m. Its descent onto the Kansai International Airport's transit track unfolded without anything out of the ordinary. As the machine was coming to a full stop, ShengJi was staring outside the window, feeling thankful that land was nearby again. The same lady came to help him with his small suitcase and held his hand until they arrived inside. She brought him all the way to the receiving area, where family members, business partners, and taxi drivers patiently waited for their passenger.

Since ShengJi had nothing more than his carry-on, he was escorted towards the crowd. He was desperately trying to spot his onee-san’s long hair and kind-hearted smile, but he could not seem to locate her. His chest felt like it was clattering from the inside. At the same moment, the flight attendant let go of his hand gently, which enhanced the little boy’s discomfort. The seconds following seemed like eternity to ShengJi. He felt his abandoned hand become moist, as his eyes looked around the crowd rapidly.

A delicate hand waved around to his right, dressed in a lovely plum-coloured dress. She was there. Shizuka…onee-san! ShengJi rushed to his big sister as if he had finally found something he had been searching all his life. She greeted him with bright eyes and open arms. “I’ve missed you too, Shuji-chan.” She patted his back in circles, which always reminded the little boy of how she used to care for him as a toddler.

“Shall we go, little brother?” she asked, grabbing his hand and suitcase. ShengJi’s answer was quick and positive. All feelings of anxiety had lifted from his chest. “Yes, I couldn’t wait to see you again, onee-san.”

Shizuka had learned to drive since ShengJi had seen her last. They embarked in the dark blue vehicle, and after a long time stuck in the airport traffic, they finally hit the road to Kashihara, where their mother’s modest home was situated.

Years ago, the whole family lived in the effervescent city of Tokyo, where Nadeshiko had studied nursing. Shizuka was born as a gift to a loving marriage, in spring when the cherry trees blossomed and shivered in the morning wind. It was such a beautiful day, imbued with peace and calm, that Nadeshiko implored her husband that they name her as such, Shizuka, which meant quiet in her native tongue. The little girl had grown honoring her name, as she was as beautiful as flower blooms and as relaxed as a snoozing kitten.

Quite the opposite, ShengJi arrived in autumn, the season of dying leaves. Nadeshiko’s water broke as they were travelling by train, which made things rather complicated on the way to the hospital. He was born in the evening, after long hours of hard labour. His first breath in the world was joined with a loud and painful scream, proof that he was alive. Nadeshiko, who had promised a Chinese name for her newborn son, chose to call him life.

They arrived to Kashihara around 10 a.m. “Just in time to start preparing lunch,” thought Shizuka out loud. ShengJi passed the fence, walked down the short pathway, and pushed the front door. He had not been to this house yet, as his mother’s move took place a few months ago, when her health had once again deteriorated. “It feels like home,” he noticed, even though he knew not the grounds, he somehow could sense his mother’s aura lingering everywhere around the place. Nadeshiko might have been ill, but she always loved flowers and the courtyard was filled with them, probably planted carefully by Shizuka’s hand. The relaxing perfumes filled the summer air while the colours glimmered in the morning sun. ShengJi’s fears of returning to Japan had completely lifted.

The silhouette of his mother was waiting for him in the entrance. She was maintaining herself with her hand on the wall. A joyfilled ShengJi hurriedly took off his shoes and ran to his mother’s arms.

Jiliade • January 15-16, 2018