The music box had belonged to her mother a long time ago. It sat on her desk, just another childish trinket she couldn't get rid of.
Kayo remembered her mother sometimes, in the middle of the night snatches of her voice singing, she could picture her face when she meditated, and when she was surrounded by cherry blossoms in Japan.
With only candles lighting the room she opened the box, the ballerina started to turn, and a tinny version of The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy started to play. The box contained some jewelery, photo and a smaller box decorated with cherry blossoms.
The woman in the photo was young and beautiful, full of life and happiness. Kayo knew she looked just like her mother, her dad had always told her so. Even if he hadn't, she wasn't blind; the woman in the photo could have been her reflection.
Carefully she removed the bottle and inhaled the scent of cherry blossoms. She'd only worn the perfume twice. It was too precious to use and she'd almost regretted it both times. Almost.
Kayo wasn't sure if she belived in any sort of afterlife, in heaven or hell. She certainly didn't believe in ghosts. Why she did this little ritual was a mystery but she still did it.
The boys were out, they wouldn't be back for a while, she placed the photo in front of the mirror.
"Hi mum, they know about it and they haven't kicked me out. I've felt so much and I'm not sure where to start, but I guess I have to start somewhere."
