This happened a few years ago. I’m Atsushi Nishida. My dad, who lived at my parents’ house, passed away not long ago. He was a total workaholic, but thanks to him—and my mom—we grew up wanting for nothing. Losing him was devastating. Still, what worried me even more was my mom.
After the funeral and the seventh-day memorial, when life was just starting to feel a little normal again, my wife Megumi brought it up.
“…I’m really fine, so maybe you should head home soon. Megumi and the kids are waiting for you, right?” “What are you talking about? I’m staying. Man, I’m starving.” “…Do you want to eat something before you go?”
Just thinking about my mom’s home cooking for the first time in a while made my heart lift—until I heard a long, heavy sigh. She seemed so down, sighing more than usual. Her back looked thinner too, like she’d lost weight. Of course she would be like this. She’d just lost the man she loved, and it hadn’t even been a few weeks yet. That’s when I thought it—I had to be there for her. I had to support my mom.