Chapter 124
"Ryosaku-kun..."
Mieko's letter didn't begin with a "Sincerely yours" like Tokiko's, or a "Dear" like Isao's, but instead started straight away with an address to her most beloved person.
And the letters, written in blue fountain pen, no longer had any "power"... it gave the impression that her physical strength had already deteriorated to a considerable extent.
"Ryosaku-kun... how are you?
I'm in the hospital now.
It's been a while since I was hospitalized, but... my strength is declining day by day, and my body has become thinner.
... Actually, Ryosaku-kun.
I have leukemia... and I'm in recuperation for the time being.
Right now, I'm in a "sterile room", undergoing chemotherapy and rehabilitation every day.
Oh... sorry, this has turned into a gloomy story...
I'll stop here for today.
Recently, I've suddenly felt tired again... I'm sorry."
(... Mieko-chan, I'm sorry. You're in such a difficult condition, and you're doing this for me... Mieko-chan, don't push yourself. I'll be fine...)
Having read this far, Ryosaku could clearly understand why Mieko's strength was declining day by day, and she was in such a difficult condition that she could barely pick up her pen, but she was forcing herself to write for him.
Ryosaku was also reminded of the "message of love" that Mieko had written to him in her still-uncertain hiragana on Tanabata day when they were students at K Elementary School, and the sad message that Mieko had left on the sliding door on that painful day when they were parted, for Ryosaku, who would soon come back to visit... those two dear messages, nostalgic and heartbreaking.
Though it was in the "handwriting of an adult," there was no doubt that it was Mieko's own handwriting... it was also "proof that she lived."
