What are you looking for? she had asked me. I think about it. A place for these dreams that I don’t know what to do with?

I just want to hide. Looking down, I say to Mrs. Numauchi, “I have a lot to learn.” She shakes her head. “At first, I knew nothing, but stick with it and you’ll learn along the way. That’s all that’s needed.”

Unhappily biding my time in an office doing a job that doesn’t excite me? And on top of everything, come home and not be able to stop thinking about work? There is never any escape from the petty frictions and irritations of dealing with other people, and having to come down on them about squaring the accounts and books. I might as well be at work

After twelve years she looks completely at ease in her coral-pink blouse. She’s amazing, I think, from the bottom of my heart.

had no time to eat and my health was shit. I used to rely on nutrition drinks and supplements. Then one day I was looking at them lying all around my desk when I suddenly thought—what am I working for?” He tosses the last of the rice ball into his mouth. “I was working in order to eat, but I never had time to eat because of work—that seemed crazy.”

So there I am, the budding career woman and local girl made good, crying and shaking with anger. This is not how I ever want Saya to see me.

“The moment you say ‘don’t,’ you’re done for.”

Sea glass is the glass from faraway places that you find washed up on the beach. Fragments of broken jars and bottles are tossed by the waves until the edges rub smooth, and they arrive on the shores of other countries looking like nature’s own polished works of art.

It’s amazing the power stories can have.