Epilogue (French Love Story 126 - Final Episode)

10 years later

Ten years after my reunion with Michael in Tokyo...

Time flies, and I had turned 41.

I am now sitting at my computer in the living room of my home in Tokyo.

For about 10 years, starting from the age of 31, I devoted myself to my work in real estate sales.

Three years later, I obtained my real estate license, and as I continued, I began to achieve top sales results.

The work was very rewarding, but by my late 30s, I had started thinking about quitting.

"I want to try working as a writer, something I've dreamed of since I was a child..."

After passing 40, when I became conscious of the "turning point of life", I took the plunge and resigned from the real estate company.

The French Love Story

And now... I am writing my first novel, "French Love Story," as a writer.

Since starting my career as a writer, I have utilized my knowledge and experience to write various articles, including travelogues, music reviews, and historical analyses.

However, what I wanted to write most of all was a romance novel.

In particular, I had always thought, "I want to write a romance novel based on my experiences studying abroad in France.".

...Until I started living alone after my divorce at 28, I had been forced to live a life of confinement, with no freedom, under the surveillance of my parents' home and my husband.

After the divorce, I had many romances, as if to clear away the gloom I had felt until then.

My youth blossomed later than most people's, in my late twenties...

Especially during the time I lived in France and immediately after returning to Japan, I met many people, fell in love, and created countless memories.

I shared those episodes with my friends as fodder for girl talk.

They listened with interest, and everyone said the same thing at the end.

“Reiko-chan, your romantic experiences are so interesting!!

You have a talent for writing, too; you should turn them into a novel someday.”

“Oh, no, that’s impossible...”

...Even though it was a compliment, I always gave a negative response.

At the time, I felt embarrassed and was convinced that there was no way I could write a novel, so I kept those memories locked deep inside my heart.

But...it felt like a waste to keep the irreplaceable experience of “falling in love in France” all to myself, and I wanted many people to know about it...it is also true that such a thought had been lying dormant.

Now that I have taken my first step as a writer, the things I have experienced will surely become my greatest asset and strength.

The memories of the many loves I experienced over these past few years contain excitement, tears, anger... and great love.

Thinking that, I gathered my courage and decided to preserve the events of that time as a novel.

The writing progressed faster than I thought, and it is finally coming to an end...

Mon mari

“What are you writing?”

Suddenly, I heard my husband’s voice as he came out of the bedroom.

He is self-employed, and he has the day off today.

“I’m writing a romance novel right now, and it’s almost finished.”

He said while brewing coffee.

“I see. You’re working hard on your writing from early in the morning.”

Still... I was really surprised when you quit your real estate job."

I said, looking back at him.

"After all, you'd been saying for a long time, 'Once you become independent and open your own shop, and it gets on track, I'll quit my real estate job,' right?

I supported you before, but now it's your turn to support me."

He gave a wry smile at my words.

"I know.

Reiko, you worked so hard in sales and earned so much for us.

Since coming to Japan, I've been juggling working at a galette shop and modeling, but back then, my income didn't even come close to yours..."

Having been in Japan for over ten years since arriving from France, his Japanese had become completely fluent.

Now, Japanese is our language for daily conversation.

"We had times like that, didn't we...

When I got married at 32, my parents liked you and bought us an apartment in Tokyo, which made life much easier, but still.

I really think it's amazing that we've managed to make it this far..."

Mikael hugged me from behind.

"I even made you give up on having children, Reiko, and caused you so much trouble.

I'm truly sorry..."

I kissed him and said,

"It's okay.

I'm happy just having you, Mikael.

Isn't it precisely because it's just the two of us that we can stay like lovers forever?"

At only 32 years old, he gazed at me with a breathtakingly beautiful smile.

"Thank you.

That's right, I don't need anything else as long as I have Reiko.

I am truly happy just to be married to you, Reiko, and to be together like this."

...We have no money, and we have no children.

But as long as we are together, that alone is enough to make us happy.

It felt like the perfect life for "someone who prioritizes love above all else." as I am.

After we held each other for a while, he spoke as if he had just remembered something.

"Come to think of it, what kind of story is your romance novel?"

I braced myself a little, thinking, "Here it comes!"

"Well, I went to France on a working holiday when I was 29, and lived in Tours and Paris, right?

It's a story about the various loves I experienced during that time.

I also wrote a little about what happened after I returned home."

Michael was very curious about the novel.

"Oh, so am I in it?

That sounds interesting. Let me see it."

I felt a bit of resistance to letting him see this novel.

"I don't mind, but...

I was a woman who loved often, so Michael might get jealous if he reads it..."

He said with a laugh.

"What are you talking about!?

I'm the one who knows best that Reiko dated other men because of the long distance, aren't I?

It doesn't matter what happened in past relationships.

Reiko had many romances, became more and more beautiful, and transformed into a charming woman...

And in the end, she became my wife, and now, she loves me.

Don't you think that's the best thing ever?"

My heart warmed up.

Even after nine years of marriage, Michael still loves me this much...

I thought that marrying this person was truly the best decision I ever made.

Reading

"If you're going to say that much, I'll read it.

But there are a lot of kanji, will you be okay?"

He could handle Japanese conversation without difficulty, but he still struggled with kanji.

Michael made this request while acting spoiled.

"Then, Reiko, you read it.

I really love your voice and the sound of the Japanese you speak."

If I'm praised that much, I can't refuse...

"All right.

But I'm telling you, there are over 100 episodes, so it's impossible to read them all at once."

For now, just the first chapter for today.

It starts from the time I was married to my previous husband."

"Yeah, yeah."

Michael waited for my reading with his eyes sparkling.

I took a deep breath and began reading the beginning of "The Honeymoon Where I Decided to Divorce".

That was merely the prologue to a long, long love story...

- French Love Story - The End -