"Mom…Hello…Mom"
"Hello, what is it dear? How did it go?"
"Mom…"
"Yes dear?"
"…She…she…she didn't make it."
"What!"
Mr. Kodo quickly ended the call. He couldn't say anymore. Saying it made it feel more real, more absolute. "I can't believe it. She's gone; she's not coming back. What am I going to do?" he thought. Just then his mobile rang.
"Hello…Dad?"
"Hello son. Your mother told me. Did she have the baby? Did the baby make it?"
"It's alive, but in an incubator."
"How long will the baby need to stay there?"
"The doctor says maybe a month."
"Why don't you come home son? Your mother wants you to come home."
"Ok."
He wasn't sure if it was ok to leave the baby in the hospital with no visitors, but the doctor assured him it was. "Don't worry, Mr. Kodo, we will take good care of your baby. There is nothing else you can do. Go home to your family. We will call you if there is any news," said the doctor.
When he arrived at his parents' home, the house seemed so unfamiliar. It was smaller than he remembered. Had it really been that long ago? His bedroom was still the same, as was his brother's.
"Oh dear!" cried his mother, "You're finally home! It's been so long."
"Hello mother, I've missed you too."
"Come talk with me while I prepare tea. How is your work?"
"It is good, busy as usual."
"And how is your health?"
"It is good, although lately it has been difficult to eat."
"I can see that!" she said, looking him over. "Don't you worry. You are not alone in this. We are family and we will help you." He breathed a sigh of relief. Then he left the room and wept to himself.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" his mother asked his father. "He'll pull through, you'll see. He's tough," replied his father. "I sure hope so," his mother sighed. "Tea is ready dear!" she called out.
They sat in the open front room around a long rectangular table. For a while, no words were spoken. "We love you so much," his mother said. "I know," replied Mr. Kodo.
. . .
The next day his sister-in-law, Karina, called him.
"We're making preparations for the memorial service," she said.
"When will it be?"
"Next Tuesday."
There was a long pause.
"Hello…Are you still there?"
"Yes, I'm here. I'll be there."
He wasn't in the mood for conversation, but his mother knocked on the door.
"I thought I heard the telephone. Who was that dear? Is everything alright?"
"That was Karina. She said the memorial service will be next week."
"Your father and I will attend also."
"That's not necessary."
"Nonsense! What kind of parents would we be if we didn't attend!?"
"Thank you."
The memorial service was a somber affair. Pictures of the beautiful, young Mrs. Kodo were everywhere. Mr. Kodo maintained his composure throughout the service by focusing his attention on thanking the guests who attended. Karina, however, did not. She sat at the end of the table sobbing while her parents thanked guests expressing their condolences.
Mr. Kodo noticed her, and led her away to a secluded corner. "My sister, she was too young to die. Why did she have to die so young? Why…why couldn't it have been me instead?" She burst into tears clinging tightly to Mr. Kodo. He held her, and his own tears fell into her hair. Mr. Kodo's mother noticed them, but did not interrupt.
. . .
A week passed. Mr. Kodo continued to stay at his parents' house. Meanwhile, his mother scheduled a family meeting to determine how to best help her son. Mr. Kodo's brother and his wife, and Karina and her parents were in attendance.
"I know that we are still feeling the effects of our loss," began Mr. Kodo's mother, "but I called you here today to focus on our future. As you know, our dear one left us a little treasure to remember her by." Mr. Kodo dropped his head in shame at his mother's attempt at eloquence. "I'm sure you will all want to contribute to help care for this little treasure," she continued. "By the way," she said, turning to her son, "I'm ashamed that I didn't ask you earlier. I was so focused on you and the loss of my daughter-in-law. Do I have a new grandson, or granddaughter?"
Mr. Kodo looked up at his mother with such an expression that it shocked her. Suddenly, all eyes were upon him. He excused himself and went to his bedroom and locked the door. Everyone sitting around the table looked at each other. "He's taking this really hard," his father apologized. Everyone nodded in agreement. Just then, Karina rose and tapped lightly on his bedroom door. "It's me," she said in a soft voice. He opened the door and she crashed into him, hugging him. He closed the door and held her for a while.
"I can tell when something's troubling you," she said, breaking the silence between them. "You know, you can tell me anything." He knew he could trust her and that she'd probably find out eventually anyway, yet it was still difficult to talk about it. So much had happened in this short period of time, he didn't want to make things feel more real by talking about them. However, he knew she wouldn't release him until he did.
"There's something about the child," he began. She released him and looked up at him in expectation. "This child is not entirely male or female," he continued, "The doctor says it is not possible to determine which will dominate, but from the tests and examinations conducted thus far, I should raise the child as a male. Also, your sister was carrying twins, but lost one while she was in the hospital a few weeks before delivery. The doctor believes there may be a connection between this and the condition of the surviving child." A period of silence passed between them. Karina studied her brother-in-law's expression before saying, "Go on." "Your sister," he continued, "I think she knew she wasn't going to make it. She named this child before she died, and she named it the name she was going to give if it was a girl. I don't know if she thought it was a girl. The doctor didn't say anything before handing the child to her. What's more, she made me promise that I would keep the child." He turned away from Karina and muttered, "But I don't know if I can."
They stood in silence for a while. "Something else is bothering you," Karina finally said, "What is it?" He wasn't sure how to tell her. No matter how he rehearsed it in his head, the thought seemed foolish to him, but he felt it in his heart. Turning to her he said, "I know this may sound silly, but I can't help but blame the child for what has happened. I can't look at it without thinking that it shouldn't be here. If it weren't here, I'd have my wife back with me."
"Although I haven't met this child," Karina responded, "I kind of feel the same way." Her reply shocked him. "I don't think the child is evil or anything like that," she continued, "It's just, if I could trade the child that I don't know, for the sister I do know, I would." They stood next to each other, each in their own thoughts, trying to reconcile their feelings.
There was a tap on the door. "Are you two alright in there?" Mr. Kodo's mother asked. "Yes!" they said in unison, and smiled at each other due to the chorus. "Thank you. I feel better after talking to you," Mr. Kodo said. "Me too," Karina replied. They exited the room, Karina first, followed by Mr. Kodo, both smiling. Mr. Kodo's mother looked at them and wondered at what was developing between them.