"You once told me about Odysseus," her whisper, softer than silk, seemed to hang in the air long after the light had faded. "If we are truly meant to part, then I will wait. I will wait as long as it takes until every path is walked and every tide has turned."
It was a vow carved from despair and sealed with a final breath. A promise not just to wait, but to endure. And when endurance became the only thread left, it would turn into a search—a quiet, desperate odyssey of her own.
But all of that came later. First, there was a morning. A kitchen. And the ordinary beginning of the day that would end their world.
******
The hiss of steam filled the kitchen. A woman deftly placed pieces of vegetables and meat into the boiling water. She didn't forget to add various kinds of spices, then stirred them.
Yuki, that was her name. Though she was about twenty years old, her face still looked like that of a teenage girl. Her black irises matched the color of her hair that flowed long down to her back.
While she was absorbed, a pair of hands wrapped around her slender waist from behind, slipping between the folds of the pink apron she wore.
"Eh?!" She startled slightly, but a soft laugh slipped from her small lips. "You're so good at choosing the time when I let my guard down, my Husband." She threw a warm smile at the handsome man with black hair who embraced her.
The man chuckled softly. "What's wrong with seducing my own wife?"
Yuki shook her head gently, a red blush creeping over her cheeks. "At least let me prepare breakfast."
"Need help?"
Once again, Yuki shook her head. "Last time you 'helped,' this kitchen turned into your playground. You covered my whole body with flour. It's a disaster if you 'help,' Arata."
Arata's laughter echoed in the kitchen. He couldn't deny his silly behavior whenever he was with Yuki, his beloved wife.
"Now go quickly or I'll hit you." Yuki raised the ladle in her hand as a playful threat.
Her husband grinned slightly when he saw her act. He brought his face closer, close enough to make her blush and turn her face away awkwardly.
"Alright, I won't disturb you, but give me something special first."
"You… always so annoying," she said, stealing a glance. Yuki sighed. Her hand moved slowly, caressing the cheek of the one she'd loved since her youth. "But… perhaps that's what makes me fall in love with you again and again."
Her eyes closed, her lips drew near, kissing her husband's forehead. After a moment, she drew her lips away.
"Only on the forehead? Not on the lips?"
Yuki pouted, her small hand patting Arata's tall body. "Don't complain so much. Go quickly, you annoying man!"
Arata quickly left his wife and waited in the living room. He sat on the sofa while staring blankly at the news on the TV.
A faint smile formed as he looked at the gold ring on his finger. From his pocket, he took out a box containing a silver necklace with a crescent-shaped pendant.
"I hope she'll like this gift."
Today was their fourth wedding anniversary. Arata intended to give the necklace to his wife.
He then reached into his other pocket and took out a neatly folded vacation brochure. His shoulders relaxed as he looked at it.
"This time… I'll surely take you on a holiday. No more work. Nothing will stop us this time… I promise."
Arata turned back to the jewelry box, weighing the necklace again. In his mind, he imagined how it would look on his wife's neck. His grip tightened.
As he focused, without realizing it, the objects around him began to tremble slightly. A few seconds later, his smartphone on the table rang loudly. Its screen flickered red and white.
Bzzzt!
Arata's eyes widened, realizing something bad was coming. He immediately ran to the kitchen and grasped his wife's hand. "Let's go!"
"Eh?! What's—?"
Before Yuki could react, the ground shook violently and objects fell from the shelves. The kitchen cabinet collapsed. Plates shattered on the floor.
"Earthquake!"
Arata reacted quickly, grabbing his wife's hand and pulling her under the table. "Yuki! Get down!"
They wrapped their arms around each other, calming the fear crawling up their backs.
Yuki buried her head in Arata's chest. His embrace tightened when he felt her body trembling.
"Arata…"
"Stay calm."
A few seconds passed; the quake began to subside. The shaking stopped.
"It seems it's over," Arata murmured, starting to release his embrace. "We have to hurry to the evacuation area!"
Yuki nodded, her voice still trembling. "Y-you're right."
Arata came out first from under the table. Yuki followed, though her legs were still shaking.
"Hurry, Yuki. I'll carry you if I have to."
Yuki took a deep breath, calming herself first. "No need. I can walk. Trust me, I'm fine." Though firm, her voice shook.
"Alright. I understand. Don't hesitate if you need help."
Yuki nodded.
Just a few steps later, an aftershock hit. It was clearly much stronger than before. Pieces of the roof fell, walls cracked, the floor split.
"Aaaaah!"
"Yuki!"
Yuki slipped into the basement.
Arata immediately jumped, wrapping his arms around her, trying to shield her with his own body without a thought for his safety.
Thud!
Both of them fell. A loud crash echoed as Arata's back hit the cold, hard basement floor.
"Ugh…"
It wasn't over. Rubble kept falling from above. Arata quickly turned over, covering his wife with his body.
The sound of heavy objects falling didn't stop, striking Arata's back. He struggled to endure, to protect her.
Meanwhile, Yuki clenched her eyes shut. She didn't dare look. Deep down, she only hoped they'd survive.
"Aaaargh!"
The quake suddenly stopped, along with Arata's cry of pain that tore through Yuki's heart.
Something warm dripped onto Yuki's cheek. She opened her eyes slowly. Instantly, she froze. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
"Thank goodness… you're safe."
Arata, with a weary, forced smile, wiped a drop of blood from Yuki's cheek.
"No… Impossible…"
Yuki stared in disbelief. A sharp piece of wood had pierced the chest of the one she loved most.
"Cough… cough…"
Fresh blood spilled from his mouth, staining part of his wife's frozen face.
"Heh, look at you now." Arata laughed weakly. His trembling fingers tried to wipe the blood from Yuki's face. "Sorry for ruining your beauty."
"No… isn't true!"
Yuki's world collapsed. She wanted to scream, but no sound came. As if a lump had clogged her throat.
"Sorry… for worrying you…"
Arata knew his condition perfectly—there was no saving him. His hands trembled violently, unable to support his own weight.
He brought his lips closer, kissing his wife's forehead. "That's payback… for… this morning… Yuki."
A bitter smile formed one last time before he finally collapsed and exhaled heavily.
Yuki came to, touching her husband's body lying beside her.
A drop of water fell down her cheek. She hugged his stiff body, pressing their foreheads together.
"Please… don't leave me alone, Arata."
Her fingers clutched his body, as if trying to force him awake even though she knew he'd never open his eyes again. She buried her face in his stiff form.
"Always, always, always, always like this… why only me? Why always me?"
Fate always toyed with her. Each time she found happiness, it was immediately ripped away, leaving nothing behind.
Her fingers moved slowly along her husband's hand. As she tried to link their hands, she found a silver necklace, still warm.
That day… was their wedding anniversary. And the necklace in her hand, which should have been a joyful gift… instead brought unbearable pain crashing into her chest.
"I… I can't accept this."
Anger and despair drove her to scream hysterically, hoping this was all just a nightmare she'd wake from. Sobs came as the pain spread.
"Please… give him back."
Yuki held Arata's body tightly. Her sobs began to weaken, replaced by silence. In that silence, she felt something.
The necklace in Arata's hand suddenly glowed, a warm light enveloping them both.
"Why… why are you still warm?" she whispered, realizing his body didn't feel truly cold yet. "What is this light?"
Then she heard it. Not a human voice, nor one from this world. But a whisper—soft, distant, and deep.
Do you wish to be with him, to cross beyond the bounds of life, O faithful one…?
Yuki clenched her jaw. "Yes! Take me with him! Whoever you are, I beg you—goddess, demon, angel, anything! I'll do anything as long as I can stay with him!"
I will take you to where fate is rewoven. But you will not meet him now. If your heart is steadfast, then seek him.
The voice vanished along with the light from the necklace that now surrounded them. Yuki gripped her husband's hand tightly and, through her tears, let herself be swept into the light that embraced them.
Once more, she pressed her forehead to his. Then she whispered into his ear, softer than the breeze itself.
"I promise... wherever we are... we will be together again..."
As the light faded, both their bodies slowly vanished like morning dew that comes and goes without a trace.