Hiromi Kawakami

A grown woman would know how to get warm in a situation like this. But, for the moment, I was a child and helpless.

“Would you consider a relationship with me, based on a premise of love?”

Enveloped in Sensei’s warm and dry embrace, I wanted to laugh and I wanted to cry. But I didn’t laugh and I didn’t cry anymore either. All I did was be still there in Sensei’s arms.

Now they were farmers in name only—

I was introduced to the word hell in her room

When the night was young,

You’re such a drag,” she would snap. “Even your makeup is so damned sensible!”

“Too much weightlessness causes osteoporosis, you know,

Our breasts and pale bellies were visible through our robes.