港の灯りを持ち帰る

The smell of salt reached Saki as she stepped onto the platform. She set down her small suitcase and touched the silver leaf at her ear. Ritsu had chosen those earrings five years ago. At thirty, she still could not quite explain why she had worn them today. He had sent an invitation to his exhibition of harbor photographs. “Saturday is the last day. Come if you’d like.” Saki designed book covers in Tokyo; Ritsu had taken over his family’s photography studio in this town. They had been a couple until five years ago. Living apart, they kept postponing their visits until things settled down. Saki had been the one to end it. Ritsu was waiting beneath the station clock. Now thirty-two, he still rolled up only one sleeve. “I didn’t ask you to meet me.” “I know. I just wanted to show you the hill up to the exhibition.” He did not take her luggage from her. He walked beside her, and the space he left made her feel a little easier. On the coast road, he asked, “What time do you leave tomorrow?” “Eleven. Until then, I’m going to be here. Properly here.” Her own answer surprised her. She muted her work notifications and put her phone away.