Banana Yoshimoto

Then I became aware of the heavy atmosphere in the room. I felt that I was inside Yuichi's nightmare, and that if I stayed here too long I, too, would become a part of it, destined to be snuffed out in the gloom.

Under the blue sky, inhaling the clear, sharp bite of winter air, I was overwhelmed by it all. What should I do? I had no idea. The sky was blue, blue. The bare trees were sharply silhouetted, and a cold wind was seeping through.

Truly great people emit a light that warms the hearts of those around them. When that light has been put out, a heavy shadow of despair descends.

“Life can be so hard," I said, moved. "Yes. But if a person hasn't ever experienced true de-spair, she grows old never knowing how to evaluate where she is in life; never understanding what joy really is. I'm grateful for it."