Festival of Ages: 'A Story of Two People's Love (Novel)' | That Christmas Day Lasts Forever

We bought a big Christmas cake, didn't we?

Do you remember?

At the cake shop, the pure white, largest cake topped with big strawberries.

It was the cake you pointed at first through the round glass display.

I suppose the red Santa sugar figurine caught your eye.

Even three candles were too many, but you kept pointing here and there, and the shop clerk was troubled, weren't they?

In the end, we got two small bags of five candles each.

Do you remember?

When we got home, the sweet scent came along with us, didn't it?

The car and the elevator were both filled with the scent of the cake.

We untied the pink ribbon together, didn't we?

With small fingers and big fingers, we said, 'Ready, set!'

You opened the box, didn't you?

Even though I hadn't taught you, you took the box off straight, slowly and as if it were precious.

With your small hands and big, beautiful eyes opened as wide as they could go.

For some reason, you suddenly laughed out loud, didn't you?

Yes, it was so wonderful, wasn't it?

Though I was the only one with tears welling up in my eyes.

You don't understand, do you? You don't remember, right?

Surely, your big eyes reflected only the bright red Santa and the strawberries.

And perhaps only the white clouds.

Anyway, it was a space filled with the scent of sweetness and strawberries mixed together.

It was unbearably warm, wasn't it?

Do you remember?

We stood up all the candles we were given, didn't we?

You stared at them quietly, looking puzzled.

You didn't like the smell of the matches, did you?

You leaned back with your big eyes wide open.

Do you remember?

We did it again, saying, 'Ready, set!' didn't we?

You drooled, going 'Pfft!'

You laughed so much, and they wouldn't go out, would they?

The ten candles were a formidable foe.

Do you remember?

What your little fingers pinched was, as expected, the bright red Santa.

But you placed it on the plate as if it were precious, didn't you?

We didn't cut the big cake, did we?

We were far too busy for that, weren't we?

The fluffy white clouds were mysterious, weren't they?

You gently touched them with just one cute index finger.

The first taste of cream was a surprise, wasn't it?

It was soft, gentle, and the sweetness spread throughout your mouth.

Your big eyes grew even wider.

Do you remember?

The strawberry smelled so good, but you were surprised when you bit into it, weren't you?

Your big eyes crinkled into a smile until they were just slits.

I was so moved by your grown-up expression that my eyes welled up with tears again; you surely don't know that, do you?

Do you remember?

At first, we just played with a large, round silicone spoon.

The beautiful shape disappeared in the blink of an eye, didn't it?

Even so, everything before our eyes was a treasure.

Do you remember?

Before we knew it, your hands, mouth, face, and even your nice clothes were covered in cream.

Do you remember?

How you smeared it all over Daddy, too.

Do you remember?

We played 'smear, smear' together, didn't we?

Do you remember?

It was the first time we made a ruckus together, wasn't it?

Do you remember?

It was so funny that my stomach hurt from laughing.

I'm sure the neighbors were laughing too.

Do you remember?

When you said 'Mugi'.

You opened your small arms wide for me.

Do you remember?

We hugged, didn't we?

I hugged you for the first time, tightly and for a long time, saying 'Mugi'.

Do you remember?

The dad who left without saying 'goodbye' to you.

Do you remember?

The last Christmas day you remember.

I remember.

The Christmas day that happened only once, but will remain in my heart forever.

<Commentary>
Around the time the divorce mediation was reaching its final stages.
A Christmas day spent only between a father and his daughter was etched into their memories.

After that, they each lived their own lives.

Every Christmas, the dad continues to exchange
a modest gift of the heart.

* That Christmas day lasts forever *

* * * * *
* Points of concern for this article (I have started noting things I was unsure about in terms of expression)
・Since the two cannot talk to each other, I used the form of a letter.

*Reference/Citation

<Image Photo>

Christmas Cake | Created by Shiki Fujii
https://www.photo-ac.com

<<💝Christmas Project💝>>

1. Submissions for #Sai no Matsuri 'A Story of Two People's Love (Novel)' are from 11/14 (Sun) to 11/23 (Tue).
Main Theme: 'Love of Two People'
Sub-theme: 'Christmas/Gifts'

Christmas creation made by everyone [Project Introduction]
https://note.com/l3l3xu/n/na4e0a2888a77

② You can also become a Santa! has ended to great acclaim.
You can have a cute and wonderful icon made for you. [It was until Wednesday, 11/17]
Thank you for your applications, participation, and inquiries.

● Calling all Sai no Matsuri Santas ● [Christmas Project]
https://note.com/rira_ikeda/n/n3516ffe8c2c6