The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the small, worn dining table. The family of four sat in uncomfortable silence, the tension palpable in the air. The father, Masao, was the first to break the silence.
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. His wife, Akiko, looked up, her eyes filled with worry. “I know,” she replied, her voice trembling. “I know.”
Masao was a bit of an alcoholic, a habit that had worsened since he’d been selected for the deployment to the Philippines.The deployment allowance was high, and Akiko had encouraged him to apply, knowing they needed the money to pay their bills and save for their children’s futures. But she was also terrified for his safety.
Their daughter, Ayumi, was working part-time at a convenience store to earn money for tuition fees. She was quiet, her mind racing with thoughts of her father’s safety. Their son, Hiro, was an elementary school student. He had decided to limit himself to eating only one bag of potato chips a day, a strange coping mechanism he’d adopted since his father’s deployment was announced.
“I’m worried about you, Dad,” Ayumi said, her voice barely audible. Masao nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and determination.
“I’ll be fine,” he said, his voice stronger than before. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Akiko reached across the table and took his hand. “I know you will,” she said, her voice filled with hope. “I know you will.”
As they sat there, the family of four tried to find comfort in each other’s presence. They knew that the next few months would be difficult, but they also knew that they would get through it together.
This story is fiction
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