Rain in the Roses

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we love deeply becomes a part of us." — Helen Keller

“Star Yakisoba?” The girl raised her hand. Every day, the same. She was used to her life. Though only five, her innocence had been claimed by circumstance. She longed for adventure and excitement, like from the stories her Baba would read to her. Tales of dashing warriors, always going on some kind of quest to save the world. School was a blur. Meaningless classes and subjects whirled around in her head, yet never quite entered her mind. It was all too little for her. She wanted more. More.

Star loved walking home. The sticks lying on the road were swords, and the cracks were giant moats filled with sharks. Her Baba would always play along. Star was his only comfort after his wife passed. The beach’s heavy water had pulled her mother’s body and her dreams underneath the surface. They never found her. He lifted up his daughter and cradled her in his arms as they walked up the steps to their small apartment. Home, sweet home.

“Wheee!” The couch’s plush pillows were perfect jumping material. Star’s baba had gone into the kitchen to start dinner. Today was Friday- rice and banchan. The little plates of vegetables and side dishes were clattered, surrounding the big pot of white rice in the middle. Star reached her little fingers over to a bowl and her father filled it up. She shook her head vigorously at the sight of cabbage on her rice. Her baba ignored her with a smile. The hand painted, delicate china was a gift from his mother in law. For others, it was a symbol of beauty and grace; for him, it served as a reminder that his daughter would never be complete.

Saturday was a day of freedom. No school walls to hide behind and no need to be bored. Star woke up extra early and opened the door. A small, gentle breeze blew on her face and she giggled. She jumped over potholes and into the small puddles. She waved hello to frogs and imitated birds. Since she did this often, her baba put a small tracking device in her hair ties, so he would know if his daughter wandered too far. Star walked over to a big log and peeked inside it. Trees and forest surrounded her. Her mother had taken her here often before she had died. “Hi, there.” An unfamiliar voice rang out. Star jumped and turned around, shaking. A tall boy was sitting on the log in front of her. His eyes looked tired, but his face showed only happiness. “I’m sorry. Did I scare you?” Star shook her head hesitantly.

Her baba had told her not to speak to strangers, but this new face felt different. How could someone who looked so nice be mean? Oh, well. Star sat on the log, right next to him. He stuck out his hands and showed her a simple game. It was a game her mother had taught her. No one else at school knew about it. In return, Star pulled out a big, green caterpillar from underneath her, and put the crawling creature in his hand. The boy laughed. He stuck his face forward and sniffed it gently. His smile burst into a heavy bout of coughing. A minute later, he was fine. “My name’s Light.” “Star”, she said shyly. Light stuck out his hand and shook Star’s little one. Only then did Star notice his shaved head. She pointed towards it innocently. In return, Light pointed to Star’s long hair. She laughed.

Light looked at his watch. “Oh! It’s almost five o’ clock!” Star jumped off and took Light’s hand. “Do you want me to walk you home?” Star nodded. On the way, the two of them jumped over the same puddles, and jousted with the same sticks, as Star did the day before.

When they arrived, Light reached out and rang the doorbell. When Star’s baba opened the door, he was shocked. “Who are you? What do you want with my daughter?”, he asked. Light chuckled and stuck out his hand. Mr. Yakisoba reluctantly shook it. “My name’s Light, sir. I met your daughter out in the woods while she was playing. So, I thought that I might as well walk her home safely.” Star’s baba nodded, and at last, he smiled. “Did you two have fun?” Star nodded exaggeratedly. Her shy voice said out, “Can we play again tomorrow, Light?” Light laughed and nodded. “Well, if your Baba says we can, absolutely!” Mr. Yakisoba nodded. “Of course.”

In three months, Star changed drastically. Every day after school, she would finish her homework and go out to play with Light, until dinner. On the weekend, she would spend the whole day out in the woods, with her lunch in her little backpack. Her baba would spend his days alone, and he felt like he never saw her anymore. The only times he did get to spend time with her were on the walks to and from school, but they were only a few minutes long. Sometimes, he found himself wishing the Light would go away somehow, just for a few weeks so he could get his daughter back again. But after, he would realize that his daughter’s happiness was more important than his own. Things weren’t the same anymore.

One day, Light didn’t show up to play. Star played on her own and walked home sadly. The next day, Light showed up with thousands of sorry’s and promised he wouldn’t skip anymore. Star accepted the apology with a pouted mouth. Then, she stuck out both of her hands. Puzzled at first, Light quickly realized that she was waiting to start a hand game he had taught her.

Things were all good for the next few weeks. Then, Light didn’t show for a few days on end. The next time he did show up was with a big cart rolling behind him. Forgetting about the anger, Star immediately with the wires leading up to his nose. She asked him what the cart did for him. “It gives me orange juice whenever I want it," he said. She laughed.

The next day, Light showed up angry. The next day, he showed up sad. Happy. Disgust. Scared. Sometimes he would even yell at Star. She didn’t even know why. But he always had the cart rolling right behind him.

Light brought some books with him that day. He said they were his old ones and he had to get rid of them to make space. He sat with Star and read aloud to her. When they were done, he yawned and said he was tired. He lay down on the log and fell asleep. After a while, his soft snores stopped. Star didn’t notice. She was too busy daydreaming about how tomorrow, her and Light would play a game she made up. At five o’ clock, Light still hadn’t woken up. Star didn’t know the problem, but she knew it existed. She ran home to her Baba, and told him that Light wouldn’t wake up.

Mr. Yakisoba ran. He ran to the woods and found Light sleeping on the log. He pulled out his phone and dialed for emergency services. “My daughter’s friend… He isn’t waking up.”, he said into his phone. He told them his address and hung up.

"Brain cancer. What happened today was inevitable. Mr. Yakisoba, Light is dead."

Star was in the waiting room, blowing up one of the blue doctor's gloves and making a puppet. Mr. Yakisoba walked out of the doctor's room and sat down next to her. He took a deep breath. "Star, did Light mention his last name at all?" She nodded. "Yes. Light Yakamoto" "Star, I have to tell you something. Light won't be able to play with you again." Star asked in an innocent voice, "Why?" "Well, honey, you know what happened to your Mama, right?" Star nodded. "Light was sick for a long time. He had a disease in his head." Big tears rolled down Star's cheeks. "Why?" "I don't know Star. I don't know."