Written: May 2010
I came up with this when I read a story on here called "Kitsune's Brother" by Coffeetailor. The concepts are very different, but I was inspired. I often think that Shiori is much cleverer than we give her credit for. As they say, "a mother knows."
Dearest Shuichi
1. A Beautiful Dance
Dearest Shuichi—
My hope is that you will one day read this diary and know whom your mother truly was. I haven't been able to speak to you as much as I'd like since taking ill, and that's my fault. It's hard to watch someone you love deteriorate in front of you, and I don't expect you to spend much time at my bedside. You say that you are busy with school now, and that is probably true. But you also have other things on your mind; things that I won't press you about. I don't have much time to worry about them these days, anyway. It hurts, Shuichi. I don't tell you how I truly feel every time you ask because if I did you would take it badly, and I don't want that. I only want you to be happy. But I think you already know; you look at me with tears in your eyes when you think I'm not looking, and you toss and turn in your sleep. Oh, it's a beautiful dance we have here, keeping secrets and knowing that both of us have them. I hope we'll dance for a long time.
Signed,
Your mother.