Country woman, City girl

Akiko

4 AM.

For the fifth time that morning, Akiko dragged herself out of bed to tend to her wailing baby. She could barely open her shadowed eyes, but she was used to it. Yet when the baby was finally satisfied and returned to a peaceful sleep, Akiko could not. She made her way out the house, taking in the cool air.

She half-wished she could hire a baby-sitter. Or a maid. Maybe even a cook.

Of course, the money her husband earnt was sufficient for their modest way of life, but that was it. A secret part of Akiko desired luxuries, a life of ease.

She worried for the future of her precious baby. She can’t live like this. It would be too hard. Old-fashioned.

Akiko blinked sleepily at the distant flashing city lights.

When she returned to the bedroom, she rummaged in the cupboard behind the stack of tatami mats for her collection of faded gold jewellery, and the wad of emergency cash.

I need a break.

Her mind fuzzy from fatigue, she couldn’t register the irresponsibility of her actions.

Sharon

She was out the door by the time it was half an hour after her alarm rang. Just like every other day.

She boarded the Shinkansen with routine ease, plugging earphones into her ears as soon as she found a seat. She closed her eyes and let her heart beat to the rhythm of Lady Gaga.

Her doll-like face rocked with the motion of the train, as apartment complexes blurred past the window, and sparkling high-rises rose majestically behind the older buildings. She had long since gotten over the hypnotic, mesmerising view.

That evening, back at the apartment, Akiko stared blankly at her laptop screen. Her fingers typed mechanically, but every so often, she attacked the ‘back-space’ key, frustrated with the meaningless, senseless jumble that was appearing on-screen.

Her position was at stake.

She removed her glasses, and unclipped her hair so that it fell loose from its tight bun; rubbed her eyes, and massaged her temples. Taking another swig out of her half-empty coffee cup, she readied herself for another battle with numbers and dollar signs and hollow words.

It was the same thing day after day, night after night. Always.

When her iPhone buzzed, she answered it with practiced ease and speed.

“How nice of you to pick up.”

A pause.

“Oh my god, I -”

“I figured you weren’t going to arrive. After hours of patient waiting. I was hoping, hoping you’d at least remember and call… I gave in.”

“… so sorry…” choked Sharon.

“Honey, it’s not the first time. Sometimes you just gotta take a break. I love you, and all, you know. Remember that.”

He hung up.

“I-I love you, too; I… I’ll… wait for me?” she said weakly.

Kibun Sushi – the restaurant

“Kochira e douzo.”

Akiko silently followed the kimono-clad waitress, who led her through the crowded room to a recently vacated spot. She nodded in thanks, and pored over the menu. The glossy pictures of all the different dishes made her mouth water, and she thought wistfully, This looks so much better than what I can make.

Eventually she decided to order what the smartly dressed young woman sitting before her had ordered. Watching her, she suddenly felt inadequate and outdated in her plain, baggy clothing.

In an attempt to strike up some conversation, she greeted her.

“Sharon desu,” the woman responded hoarsely as she pushed her empty bowls and dishes away, her Japanese a little accented. Her eyes were a little puffy, and she buried her head in her arms.

But Akiko didn’t see that. All she saw was a professional businesswoman relaxing, taking a break at the end of the day. She longed to be able to afford the crisp designer brand clothing Sharon wore, and to walk with the air of independence most young women today seemed to have.

Finally, Sharon rose to leave, and as she walked past the older woman, who was staring about herself wide-eyed and curious at the bustle, she wondered at how anybody could possibly seem so care-free. Sharon envied her.

How easy, how simple her life must be.

Akiko eyed her as she left.

How luxurious, how splendid her life must be.