The Sense of Security Given by a Morning LINE Message

“Your pace is different than usual, so make sure you don't get sick…”
Let's both have a good day today, even if just a little ☺
I hope today is a good day for you too 🍀”

It was 4:30 in the morning.

I had woken up to drive my daughter to her general athletic tournament, and while I was preparing with my head and body not yet fully awake, a LINE message arrived from my husband.

It was his usual casual message.

But that day, it felt a little different.

The moment I saw the words on the screen, everything I had been bottling up deep inside came overflowing out at once, and before I knew it, I was in tears.

Actually, the day before, I had suffered a hyperventilation attack.

It’s just driving her there.

If I think of it that way, maybe it’s not a big deal.

But I think I had been carrying so many things without even realizing it myself.

Things about my daughter.

Things about my family.

A daily rhythm different from usual.

The tension of having to wake up early.

“I have to do this properly.”

“I mustn't be late.”

Maybe those small pressures had been piling up.

I’ve always been the type whose bottled-up feelings manifest in my body.

Even if I put on a brave face, I’m not actually okay.

When I notice it, I get stomach aches or feel breathless.

Sometimes I think to myself that I have a troublesome personality.

That’s why this time, too, I didn't tell my husband.

I didn't want to worry him.

I know he’s busy with work, and I didn't want to add any unnecessary burden.

But looking back now, I think I was actually a little anxious.

That was when I received that LINE message from my husband.

I think it’s a mysterious thing.

It didn't contain any special words.

It wasn't a long message of encouragement.

But it was packed with his personality just as it is.

It conveys that he is truly looking out for me.

That’s why it brings me peace of mind.

Even though it’s just text, it has warmth.

Even though it’s through a screen, it feels like he’s right next to me.

Even now, I sometimes think.

My husband’s LINE messages feel like he himself is about to pop out, rather than just text.

That’s how much of a sense of security they provide.

I think it’s truly a happy thing to have someone who can provide this kind of peace of mind, even after many years of marriage.

When I was young, I thought I had to manage everything on my own.

I wasn't good at showing my weak side.

I also had a strong desire not to be a burden to others.

But as I’ve gone through life, I’ve gradually come to understand that people don't have to keep trying their best all alone.

That it’s also important to be supported by someone else’s presence.

The reason I cried when I read my husband’s LINE message is surely not because of the words themselves, but because I touched the sense of security that lies behind them.

“It’s okay.”

Even though he didn't say that, I felt like it was going to be okay.

That is how significant my husband’s presence is to me.

Tomorrow, I have to wake up at 4:30 again.

Honestly, I’m a little nervous already.

I’m not good at doing things differently than usual, and I get anxious when I start thinking about it.

But for my daughter, this is her final general tournament.

Her final club activity.

The culmination of the efforts she has continued for years.

I’m sure there were happy times and frustrating times, and I think there were many tough days too.

She is about to reach that final moment.

When I think of that, even I, as a parent, feel my heart swell.

I can only do things like driving her, but that driving is also an important role that I can only fulfill right now.

In a few years, I’m sure I will look back and laugh, saying,

“It was so hard to wake up early back then.”

So for now, I want to cherish and savor this busy time.

If I get anxious, I’ll take a deep breath.

If I feel like I’m trying too hard, I’ll relax my shoulders a little.

And I will keep my husband’s words,

“I hope today is a good day for you too 🍀”

tucked away in my heart like a lucky charm.

I hope my daughter’s final tournament is a time with no regrets.

And I hope that I, too, can watch over her with a smile until the end, without pushing myself too hard.

Today, and tomorrow too.

I hope it will be a good day for everyone in the family, even if just a little. 🍀✨