Noriko's Farewell
The morning sun painted a pale orange hue across the quiet street as Noriko stood before the familiar house, her fingers trembling slightly against her bag's worn handle. A sleek black car idled at the curb behind her, its engine purring softly, a silent reminder of the reality she was running toward.
The door to the house opened, and her uncle appeared, his expression morphing from surprise to concern when he saw her.
"Noriko," he said, his voice warm and familiar, tinged with worry. "What are you doing here so early? And… what's with the car?"
She hesitated, glancing back at the vehicle where she knew her mother sat, waiting. Her hands gripped the strap of her bag tighter, as though grounding herself. "I… I just wanted to say goodbye."
His eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, his voice lowering. "Goodbye? What do you mean?"
Noriko swallowed hard, her throat tightening. "I'm leaving, Uncle. For good."
He studied her for a long moment, then shook his head. "Come inside. We need to talk."
She followed him in, her heart pounding. The house smelled like coffee and toast, the ordinary comfort of mornings in a home she hadn't been inside for years. She wished she could feel solace in it, but all she felt was a growing ache.
They sat in the living room, the tension heavy in the air. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his voice firm but kind. "Noriko, why are you doing this? You were finally happy. I saw it in you—the way you smiled when you talked about Max and Kota. Why would you throw that away?"
Her gaze dropped to the floor, tears blurring her vision. "I have to. If I stay, Mom won't leave them alone. She'll keep interfering, and I can't let her ruin their lives."
"Your mother doesn't control you," he said, his voice rising slightly. "You're an adult now, Noriko. You've built a life for yourself. Don't let her destroy it."
She looked up, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "It's not just about me, Uncle. It's about them. Max has already lost so much. He lost his wife, and now… I can't be another source of pain for him. And Kota… he's just a child. He doesn't deserve to be caught in the middle of my family's mess."
Her uncle sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "Noriko, love isn't always easy. It's messy, and it hurts sometimes. But it's worth fighting for. Max and Kota need you, whether you see it or not."
Her voice broke as she whispered, "I can't fight this time, Uncle. I'm not strong enough."
He reached out and took her hand, his grip firm. "You are strong, Noriko. Stronger than you think. You've come so far, and now you're going to walk away? Don't you think Max and Kota deserve the chance to fight for you, too?"
Tears spilled over her cheeks as she shook her head. "They deserve peace. They deserve a life without my mother hanging over them like a storm cloud."
Her uncle's expression softened, and he sighed again, squeezing her hand. "If you leave, you'll regret it. And so will they."
She stood abruptly, pulling her hand away. "I've made up my mind, Uncle. This is the only way to protect them."
He followed her to the door, his voice heavy with sadness. "You're making a mistake, Noriko. But if this is what you think is best… I won't stop you."
She paused at the threshold, her back to him, her shoulders shaking. "Thank you for understanding."
The sound of the car door opening and closing behind her broke the silence, and she walked toward it, her steps unsteady.
Inside the car, her mother sat poised and smug, her lips curving into a faint smile as Noriko slid into the seat beside her.
"Done with your goodbyes?" her mother asked, her tone dripping with satisfaction.
Noriko didn't answer immediately, staring out the window as tears streamed down her face. "Yes," she said finally, her voice hollow.
Her mother leaned back, crossing her arms. "Good. It's time to move on. They were never right for you, anyway."
Noriko clenched her fists in her lap, her heart breaking into pieces. She wanted to scream, to argue, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she whispered to herself, "Goodbye, Max. Goodbye, Kota."
As the car pulled away, her uncle stood on the porch, watching her leave, his heart heavy with sorrow.
And for the first time in years, Noriko felt truly alone.
*Flashback
Noriko sat at one of the tables in the bookstore, the faint scent of paper and wood polish surrounding her. The place was quiet now, the last customer having left for the evening. A soft glow from her phone lit her face as she scrolled through the messages Max had sent earlier.
**"Kota's birthday is just around the corner! Can you believe he'll be three already? He's been asking if he'll get 'more stories' for his gift. I told him we'll give him the best day ever… together."**
Noriko smiled faintly, rereading Max's message. Her heart felt heavy, torn between the joy of sharing Kota's special day and the dread that lingered in her chest—a dread she couldn't shake, no matter how hard she tried.
As she sat there, lost in thought, the sound of a car pulling up outside broke her reverie. She turned toward the glass door, her heart sinking when she saw who it was.
Her mother stepped out of the sleek black car, her posture poised, her gaze sharp as ever. The doorbell jingled softly as she entered, her heels clicking against the floor.
"Noriko," her mother said, her tone neutral but heavy with unspoken tension.
"Mother." Noriko stood, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "What are you doing here?"
Her mother's lips curved into a cold smile. "We need to talk. Shall we go somewhere more private?"
Without waiting for a response, her mother turned and walked back to the car. Noriko hesitated, her stomach twisting with apprehension, but she followed.
---
They sat across from each other in a quiet corner of a nearby café. Noriko stared down at the untouched cup of tea in front of her, while her mother sipped hers with practiced elegance.
"I saw you through the window," her mother began, breaking the silence. "Laughing with that man and his child. Playing house, are we?"
Noriko's eyes snapped up, a spark of defiance flashing in them. "His name is Max. And Kota is his son. They're my family now."
Her mother scoffed, setting her cup down with a faint clink. "Family? Don't be absurd. You're throwing your life away for a man who works in a bookstore and a child who isn't even yours."
"They've given me more love and happiness than you ever did," Noriko shot back, her voice trembling with emotion.
Her mother's expression darkened. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "Do you think this is a fairytale? Do you think you can live happily ever after with them? Let me make one thing clear, Noriko—you don't belong with them. And if you don't end this charade, I will."
Noriko's breath hitched. "What do you mean?"
Her mother's smile turned cruel. "I have connections, influence. I can make Max lose his job. I can ensure that child is taken away from him. I can make their lives a living hell. Do you really want that on your conscience?"
Tears welled in Noriko's eyes as her mother's words sank in. She had fought so hard to build a life with Max and Kota, to find happiness after years of emptiness. And now, it was all slipping away.
"You're a monster," Noriko whispered, her voice breaking.
Her mother shrugged, unbothered by the accusation. "I'm a realist. And so are you, deep down. You know what you have to do."
Noriko's hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the table. Her mind raced with memories—Kota's laughter, Max's gentle smile, the warmth of their little family. But alongside those memories came the image of them suffering because of her, their lives torn apart by her mother's wrath.
She lowered her head, her tears falling silently onto the table.
"I'll do it," she said finally, her voice barely audible.
Her mother's smile returned, victorious. "Good girl. I knew you'd see reason."
---
*Present
The sound of the plane's engines hummed softly as Noriko sat by the window, staring out at the dark sky. She had barely slept since boarding, her mind replaying the events of the past few hours.
She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, scrolling through the messages from Max one last time. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she reread his words.
**"We'll give him the best day ever… together."**
A tear slipped down her cheek as she clutched the phone to her chest. The pain in her heart was almost unbearable. She had made her choice, but it felt like she had ripped a piece of herself away in the process.
She pressed her forehead against the window, her tears falling silently as the city lights below faded into darkness.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to the emptiness around her. "I'm so sorry."
Her shoulders shook as she wept quietly, the weight of her decision crushing her. Behind her, the faint murmurs of other passengers faded into the background as she closed her eyes, her heart breaking with every mile that took her farther away from the life she had left behind.
CHAPTER END 🫠