I Haven't Dreamed of Flying for a While

by Taichi Yamada

  ‘Goodbye,’ she whispered in my ear and I could tell she was holding back tears.

  ‘Yeah,’ I replied, but I couldn’t bring myself to put her down. I saw people walking by us and when I looked up I saw the yellow-brown leaves on the trees moving gently in the wind against a sky bathed in evening sun. Some of the leaves were falling and I heard her whisper again.

  ‘Goodbye,’ she said.

  I nodded and let her down onto the pavement. Then I forced myself to smile.

  ‘Goodbye,’ I breathed.

  Mutsuko looked up at me and nodded with tearful eyes. Then she turned and began walking towards the station. I watched her, helpless and alone as she moved through the crowd, the line between her and me broken by strangers walking in between. Her light pink dress wound its way between large suits and women. Then eventually, she disappeared.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7