Chapter Four (Jake and Kimiko)

[Akirapryde]

Kimiko walked over to the small bar and started to pull out a pair of glasses, "nonalcoholic it is" she said trying to be positive. "Some company sounds wonderful" she said with a smile. It was a falsely painted on, but it was clear that she was trying to hide her pain.

As Jake spoke again, her shoulders sank, "I just can't believe my mother is gone. When I got word that my father was killed last January, I was devastated. But he was a soldier and it was expected. Over the years, I knew that one day he would be killed in combat. My mother was a tech, a scientist, a teacher." She turned from Jake and walked over to a large window. Beyond the window, Jake could see clearly the large world growing closer. Kimiko looked down upon the world as she continued, "my mother was a business woman" he said then fell silent.

She lifted her hand and touched the glass as if touching the world itself. "I know that other people have suffered as well. I don't want to sound selfish with my own suffering."