Hi friends,
Today, I wrote a letter to Hannah, from her close friend, Rachel. I enjoyed writing it. How is your experience reading it?
I send you love. Can you feel it?
Xiao-Yu
Letter No. 7
Hey Hannah,
I am waiting for lunch in a small cafe. Right now, I am in Onomichi. It is a small town within the Hiroshima Prefecture. It is my 2nd day here. I plan to walk around more today. There are options for shrines and temples here. I don’t seem to be interested in visiting any on this trip.
I have stayed largely off social media. It has been good for me. Did you end up cutting your hair? I shaved my head. It is easier for the road and I can hop in any barber shop without worrying about the outcome. And I met some funny people. Japan has a low birth rate. I would contribute a football team if I could. I feel okay joking about it with you. I feel okay joking about it with you.
I know I could easily send you a Whatsapp message or an email. But I want you to see my handwriting, and the coffee stain on the right corner of this hotel notepad. Plus, I know how much you will love this romantic word photo that I am capturing for you in time.
I want my life in Japan. It was just an idea before. Now, I don’t want to go home. Here, I feel safe. I can exist on the periphery of this society and have a quiet life. A quiet life, that’s all I want now. The loud and demanding children of my dreams are going to stay in my dreams. I don’t want to go through more disappointments. No more trying. I will and I am going to look at pregnant women, breastfeeding and motherhood with imaginable envy and love. It is okay that I can’t have that. Acceptance…is a daily exercise.
A young couple runs this tiny cafe I am in. They have three kids. Beautiful family. They left their city life and moved here two years ago. The owners want to be close to their family. For those who don’t have a family, we could live anywhere. Where would you go now? Jeffery loved New Zealand. How about you? I know that’s an anxiety inducing question for you. I am a great friend. You need to think about it. I will write to you at another time. Lunch is coming.
Love,
Rachel
