A Friend I Remember When I Go to a Jewelry Fair
When I go to a jewelry fair,
there is a friend I always remember.
She was someone I became close with when we were raising our children,
and she was bright, always energetic, friendly, and had many friends.
She loved new things,
and whenever she found a new lunch spot,
she would immediately invite me, saying, "Let's go."
I remember the first time I went
to a jewelry fair
that we were invited to
by the company her husband worked for.
I am not very good at making friends with people.
Since I am not the type who can go up and talk to others,
she spoke to me right after we met at a gathering for our children.
She already had many mom friends, and she included me in their group.
Thanks to her, I got to know many people, our children became friends, and raising my children became fun.
I am truly grateful to her.
Has it already been 10 years?
Back then, I never thought she would be gone so soon.
She passed away from cancer.
When we had lunch together in November,
she said her lower back hurt.
We said, "It's just because we're getting older, it can't be helped,"
laughed, and said "See you later" as we parted ways.
In December, I had something to ask her and sent her an email,
but I didn't get a reply for a long time.
I had a bad feeling,
so I contacted another mom friend
and asked her to check in since I hadn't received a reply.
After the new year,
I heard, "She is currently hospitalized and is scheduled for surgery. Let's go visit her once things settle down."
In February, I received word that she had passed away.
I don't want to believe it.
You said we would go on a trip together once we were done raising our children!
I heard that they held a private family funeral.
She was such a bright person—or perhaps, precisely because she was so bright, she didn't want anyone to see her in that state.
I quietly sent incense and a monetary offering.
Sometimes, I want to talk to her,
so I visit her grave.
But because she
loved going out,
I feel like, just like in the song "A Thousand Winds,"
she isn't just staying still at her grave.
I have now reached the age
at which she passed away, even though she was a little older than me.
It's still not the age to die, is it?
There were still so many things you wanted to do, right?
When I go to a jewelry fair,
I still think of her even now.