7.27.2017

Noemi and Me

Noemi and Me is a short story set within the Just Another Day universe. It expands on the Cherry Blossom Lake story first introduced in that series and follows in greater detail the first encounters of Aratana and Noemi, two free spirits who meet by the lake side. It was originally intended to be multiple chapters in length, but it proved more difficult to write a pure love story than I had originally expected.

Chapter 1: 生命の美しさ (Beauty of Life)

Our story begins one magical afternoon at Cherry Blossom Lake. It was a day unlike any other. Spring was well underway and Japan was alive with the colors of the season. I had just eaten lunch at a nearby restaurant. Upon my departure, I could not help but admire the spectacle of the cherry blossoms. I took a seat beside the lake. Park benches always inflicted on me a fair bit of sorrow. I would often find myself sitting alone for periods of time. Sure, others would sometimes pass, but there were no real connections. I would instead use those times to clear my mind, with varying degrees of success.

This day was quite different. On this day, I was filled with overwhelming joy as a magnificent woman appeared, as if from nowhere, and sat beside me. She asked in a loving voice, "Do you come here often?" I replied with a smile, "Actually, this is my first time." She smiled back and said, "You couldn't have picked a better time. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom." I looked her in the eyes and said, "It really is quite lovely. I wish it were like this every day." She glanced down at the palm of my hand and said, "Is that a fortune cookie?" I was, at first, hesitant to reveal its contents, but I finally budged and said, "Why, yes. I just had lunch and this was in my order. It reads: Today will be a very good day. Today you will find your destiny." She gave me a blind stare and said, "Well?" Confused, I replied, "Well... what?" She said with a smile across her face, "Did you find your destiny?" I replied with butterflies in my stomach, "I believe so, yes."

3.22.2017

Just Another Day Zero (Aborted)

Just Another Day Zero was a failed attempt to write a spiritual prequel to the original Just Another Day, set over one hundred years earlier in another prefecture of Japan. A prefecture known as Hiroshima. As I began writing about the events of August 6th, 1945, I wondered if I really had any business there. My stories often deal with the hardships of death, but this was in a whole other category.


Original Working Title (Justice Another Day)

Chapter 1: Saisho no Suteppu (The First Step)

"Please give me the light of your wisdom; to dispel the darkness of my mind and heal my mental continuum," said a noticeably anxious young woman. She went on to say, "I must seek work this morning. It is required of me, but at the same time, it is frowned upon." The woman picked up a single incense stick and placed it in the bowl before her. She closed her eyes and proceeded to recite a mantra; "Om Mani Padme Hum." She concluded the session with a selfless wish. "May all beings be well, happy and peaceful," she said as she collected herself and her belongings. Sunlight drenched the temple. Outside, a bevy of wild flowers were blooming. There were faint signs of life off in the distance. The woman quickly made her way down the steps and began her trek into town. This would be a historic day.