Cherry Blossoms Flowing in Motoyasu

a fictive missive from Shant Khodadadian

The following flash fiction is the newest entry in a long history of epistolic stories, in which a sister checks on her brother the day before a fateful event in Hiroshima.

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Photo by peter mantice on Unsplash

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Dear Little Brother

I hope you’re doing well in Yokosuka and the fan I sent for you last time is keeping you cool. Sadly, I can't send you anything except a letter this time. I’m sending it with Yuri, who is getting drafted to Yokosuka tonight. He will be there in two days and will bring the letter to you if I can reach him before 8. I’m writing in haste, so sorry if I’m all over the place.

Last time I wrote about the cherry blossoms on the bridge and how I love watching them flow in the Motoyasu; they’re gone now. It was really hot this summer here. The leaflets are getting more now. So, most of the time the river is filled with paper. Some people are getting scared because of potential air raids.

You asked about my new job at Shima hospital; I’m an official nurse now! Mostly because we’re understaffed, but even then, it was quite surprising. Also, it seems Dr. Shima-san is really taking interest in my education. I feel he sees potential in me and it makes me happy. Just two days ago he asked me to accompany him to Kure for a surgery. I declined because mother is visiting Aunt Aiko. Her foot pain is getting worse, so I needed to stay and take care of Hana. So, Dr. Shima-san took Ms. Hanako, she’s another nurse, with himself. I can’t stop thinking that I was his first choice. But hey, if I’d gone with him, I couldn’t have sent you this letter.

Do you remember Yumeko, little brother? Our childhood friend from school? One time we all gathered many cicadas thinking we could trade them with Mrs. Haru in her store for Sakuma's Drops. She took pity and actually gave us some of the sweets for a basket of cicadas, and we ate them by the Motoyasu. Did you remember her? Well, I saw her a week ago, and she’s a mother now! She had a year-old son wrapped around her back. I can’t believe little Yumeko, dirty and sweaty all over, running around shouting at cicadas, would grow up to become a mother. Can you, little brother?

I saw a curious thing the other day. I was taking a detour to the hospital in order to get past Hanokawa just to feel the nostalgia and saw a little boy outside the main door. He looked lost and scared, but had this emptiness in his eyes which scared me deeply. To the point that I couldn't bring myself to help him. Since then, I have a guilty voice in my head because I’ve failed to help a lost child.

I can't express in words how much I miss our little adventures outside the city. Following paths on Mount Gokurakuji. Looking over the city while I rest my head on your shoulder. I want to play the role of the older sister; giving you encouragement and reassuring you that the war would be over and you’d be home soon. I want to stop playing the role and you to cheer me up; I miss the silly faces you made.

To tell the truth, I am full of worries, but hope is also there, deep within my heart. A feeling that things are going to end soon, and for the better. Whatever happens we’re going to keep our family together, safe.

With love,

Your older sister.

５日 ８月 昭和 20 年

August 5, 1945

Photo by Beau Swierstra on Unsplash

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Meet the author:

Shant Khodadadian is 33 years old, born in Iran, and currently living in Armenia. He started writing in high-school and more seriously when studying English Literature at university. A few of his short stories have won local contests, such as Rama Speculative Fiction Contest. He mainly writes speculative short stories and his works have appeared in publications such as Variant Literature.

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