Hana Fujioka
Chorus Girl/Boy
I'll keep you company...
Posts: 31
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Post by Hana Fujioka on Jul 4, 2008 1:38:17 GMT -5
It was late, well past midnight and the cozy little apartment stood quiet and still. A dwindling fire burned in the fireplace of the main room and in the far corner a little teapot long since drained sat in the center of a short-legged table, which was of traditional Japanese style. Off the main room was one other bedroom where Hana now slept, sweet dreams possessing her sleep. Lovely dreams they were…that is until one dream or rather nightmare reared its ugly head.
Though the contents of the nightmare will remain unmentioned Hana woke with a jolt, a searing pain in her abdomen. With a sharp gasp Hana pulled herself up to a sitting position, her hands moved to grasp the grey wool blanket around her and rip it away. A contraction, something was terribly wrong! It was much too soon for the birth of the baby…months ahead of time. Hana edged out of bed and panic set in…a warm fluid began to run down her leg and another contraction had her in bed again…writhing. Hana felt as though she was burning alive and the intensity of the pain only worsened...a loud cry passed her lips and she closed her eyes at the realization of what might possibly happen. Help...she needed help. Was this punishment for the sins she had committed? ------------------------------------------------- Hours Later:
A tiny baby, Hana protectively held the small child in her arms. Alone she had given birth to the stillborn child, she had willed him to move or cry but neither happened. Yes, a boy...her and Jean's little son. Hana had wrapped him in a soft blanket and was unwilling to part with him...or take her eyes from his beautiful face a mix of her's and Jean's features, tears clouded her vision. Hana placed a kiss to his forehead and held his tiny hand in hers. From the moment of the birth Hana had been in hysterics, inconsolable and depressed.
"Little one?" she whispered in Japanese to the child, holding him closer to her heart, gently rocking him back and forth. "Why have you left me and your father...we already loved you." Hana weeped the tears freely running down her flushed cheeks. -------------------------------------------------- Next Morning:
Having been awake untill recently Hana had fallen asleep, upset and exhausted. Propped up in bed and though asleep she still held the child in her arms, never once having let him go.
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Post by Jean Jondrette on Jul 4, 2008 11:08:50 GMT -5
Jean walked down the street towards Hana's apartment. The day seemed beautiful to him, the sun was shining, people were happy, the trees were green with leaves and Jean couldn't have been happier. Well, if he and Hana were married then he would happier. He was visiting Hana simply because he wanted to, plus Hana had wanted to start planning the wedding, which was planned to be small, only good friends and any family members that they still talked too.
He had reached the building and walked through the small lobby up the stairs. Hana was on the fifth level, room number forty-two, Jean had memorized. Finally, Jean got to the floor and saw the black letters on the painted wooden door of the apartment. Everything seemed so normal, so ordinary, but before he opened the door, Jean sensed that something was wrong.
To check the accuracy of his sense, Jean quickly unlocked and opened the door to the apartment. There was a poignant silence that hung in the air, and Jean didn't like it, something had gone wrong during the night.
"Hana," he said in a normal voice. No answer. Jean walked into the apartment further, looking around slowly, trying to see anything particularly wrong. "Hana!"
He heard Hana's voice in her bedroom, so he ran into the room and found Hana in bed holding something with tears in her eyes. Jean walked up closer to see what she was holding and was shocked at what he saw.
It was a baby. A beautiful baby that had features of his and Hana's. It couldn't be, no it couldn't!
"Hana, is that...?" asked Jean pointing.
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Hana Fujioka
Chorus Girl/Boy
I'll keep you company...
Posts: 31
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Post by Hana Fujioka on Jul 4, 2008 12:21:04 GMT -5
It was a restless sleep, for Hana soon heard Jean’s voice calling her name; she woke her eyes instantly on the child. “Jean, here…here I am.” Hana called back and she heard his footsteps draw near. Soon he appeared in the doorway and Hana looked to him with the saddest expression. Almost automatically tears welled up in her eyes and she outstretched her hand in his direction. Her poor husband to be, he had been so enthused at the idea of them having this child. Oh! Their poor little son not even one breath or look at the world was he allowed. As she looked back down at the baby she felt guilt, it was her fault that this had happened, wasn’t it?
Jean walked closer and he gazed down at the small infant, there was an expression on his face she couldn’t quite decipher…disbelief or perhaps grief? He motioned to the child, “Our son.” She softly answered gently holding him out to Jean. The boy already had a mass of dark hair and there was a serene angelic sort of look to his face. Undeniably he was beautiful and Hana looked to the ‘sleeping’ child in adoration. Oh, Life was bitter and cruel!
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Post by Jean Jondrette on Jul 4, 2008 16:37:37 GMT -5
"Our son," Hana had said to him. Jean couldn't believe it, why did this have to happen to him and Hana. He thought the world was falling all around him, that it collapsed and would soon take him and Hana.
Hana held the baby boy out to Jean and he took it from her hands. It was so tiny, much smaller than normal babies, and it face had a beauty to it that was rare. Jean held the lifeless body in his arms tightly, bringing it to his chest. Jean felt a tear fall from the corner of his eye and wiped it away.
"I wish we couldn't known you better, little one," he said. "You would've been loved and taken care of."
Normally people would pray in moments like this, but Jean didn't. He figured that any God let this happen, he didn't want any part of it. After all, why pray when no one listens or cares! Jean returned the baby to Hana and let her have her time with him.
Jean was angry, he wanted to scream, to yell, to cry out, but he couldn't, he had to brave and help Hana get through it. He had to make sure that him and Hana would survive this. But this death did not just bring up sadness, it brought a realization.
Colette had to know. She had to know before she died, otherwise he would live with the guilt, the torture of not receiving forgiveness, for the rest of his life. He would become depressed, maybe even go mad and he did not want to thrust it onto Hana.
He sat down at the side of the bed next to Hana and stared at their dead child.
"I have to tell Colette," he said.
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Hana Fujioka
Chorus Girl/Boy
I'll keep you company...
Posts: 31
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Post by Hana Fujioka on Jul 5, 2008 2:29:20 GMT -5
Jean took the baby and held him tightly in his arms. Hana had envisioned the moment he would first hold their child…but it had not been anything like this. There was no smile on his handsome face and the tone in his voice held no happiness. He spoke to the child and she simply watched the two imagining what could have been, again her eyes filled with tears and she looked away suddenly feeling so lost and empty. Soon Jean placed the baby back in her arms and she held him protectively. The life from this child had so been stolen and Hana was not about to easily give up this little bundle. Insane thoughts entered her mind and she became strangely silent.
Hana’s sad eyes focused on Jean who seemed so calm and reserved, but beneath the façade she knew he was just as distraught over the situation as she. Thoughts of his wife had entered her mind over the last few hours and she wondered what this woman was like. Did Colette know about her and Jean, the pregnancy? Her wonderings were soon answered.
"I have to tell Colette,"
With a soft sigh Hana gave a hesitant nod, the last thing she wanted was to cause more grief in the life of this woman. Colette was leaving Jean and their small daughter, what must she be going through now? Hana really couldn’t imagine it but there was one similar trait to their plights…both had and would lose their child.
"She deserves to know..." Hana whispered resting her head on Jeans shoulder.
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Post by Jean Jondrette on Jul 5, 2008 11:44:07 GMT -5
Jean stroked Hana's hair as she rested her head on his shoulders. He held her close, not wanting to lose her like he lost the child. He knew Colette had a right to know, she had a right to know that her husband failed her, she had to know of his infidelity.
"I'll tell her later today. I'll probably be back here with clothes and a few things."
This only made him hold Hana closer and tighter. She was his support, he knew she would help him no matter what because she loved him and he loved her. Jean only worried about how Colette would take the news. He didn't want it to send her into an early grave or into a fit of bloody coughs.
All he wanted was forgiveness, then he could let it be. He needed to know that she would curse him in the afterlife and cause him suffering in his life. But how did Hana feel about him telling Colette? He hoped that Hana wouldn't get forced into the whole mess and wind up hurt.
Jean returned his eyes to his dead child. He whispered into Hana's ear, "We need to give him a proper burial."
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Hana Fujioka
Chorus Girl/Boy
I'll keep you company...
Posts: 31
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Post by Hana Fujioka on Jul 5, 2008 21:55:56 GMT -5
As Jean ran his hand through her hair Hana began to relax, she sighed closing her eyes. Jean made her feel safe and wanted, loved in his arms. Hana knew he loved her and she hoped he knew just how much she loved him. From the moment they met there was a bond between them that could never be broken.
"I'll tell her later today. I'll probably be back here with clothes and a few things."
Hana silently prayed he would be okay when he did tell Colette; she was worried and a bit afraid for him. In France she had learned that any man of moral was expected to remain faithful to his wife, others would not deem it fine for him to have a mistress unless they themselves had a similar desire. In Japan it was common, like the rice in ones bowl or the birds in the sky. Still Hana knew if she were married she wouldn’t be able to bear the idea of sharing or losing Jean. Wait! Her situation now was really no different from that, he spent much of his time and many of his nights there. When she had found out about his wife she had not given much thought to the idea of them…together. Now Hana was curious and without a positive reason she felt jealousy. Despite that all Hana wished no evil on Colette and she felt saddened by the fact that the woman would receive such news, especially with her health.
“I’ll be here for you.” Hana replied wishing him strength.
"We need to give him a proper burial."
Those words instantly set her off. Hana knew that was what needed to be done but she couldn’t part with her darling boy, her eyes opened and focused on the small baby in her arms. “No! It isn’t fair!” She cried clearly upset over the whole ordeal. “Why did this happen to us Jean, is this a punishment?” she asked looking at him, the sorrow evident in her eyes.
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Post by Jean Jondrette on Jul 6, 2008 1:15:16 GMT -5
It wasn't fair. Why had they been punished like this? If Jean was at all being punished, why was Hana being forced into it as well? If someone controlled the world they were sick, they were evil to do this to them. Jean wished that he could restore the boy's life, but he couldn't, it was impossible!
"Hana, it isn't fair, I know that," said Jean, turning to face Hana's eyes. "But no one is being punished. But if it were a punishment, it would be mine, if it is then I'm sorry that I brought you into it, Hana. I wanted so much to father our child, as much as you wanted to mother it. But this may prove that our love is strong enough to get through anything. We will survive and get through the rain, as long as we have each other."
He held Hana and the dead child close to him, not wanting to let go. He felt Hana's tears and arms fall around him. Jean knew that he and Hana would get through this obstacle and end up in each other's arms at the end of the day.
Jean looked at the clock that stood in the corner. "I must go," he exclaimed. "Colette and Marie are probably wondering where I am. Wait for me Hana, I'll be back and we can respectively grieve."
Jean pressed his lips against Hana and let their tears mix. He didn't want to leave, but he had to, he had to get it over with and taken care of. Jean blew a kiss to Hana and left the room and the apartment. As he walked down the streets towards his house, he thought of how he would break the news. He felt like he couldn't do anything right at that moment, for the first time in his adult life, Jean was as vulnerable and weak as a child.
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