☆ ˳ ︶⟡︶︶⠀୨୧⠀︶︶⟡︶ ˳ ☆ ㅤㅤㅤㅤᴗㅤㅤ@nli8_oueㅤㅤ˚ㅤㅤpresentsㅤㅤ⋮ ⠀͡⠀ㅤrain's embraceㅤ :ㅤa series ◞ ఎㅤtwㅤ:ㅤmental illness depictions , abandonment , bullying ( tw is for ser- -ies as a whole ) ep 1 : disappearance ✰ rie dreams of becoming a curator. however, upon returning to yokohama , a shocking situation awaits her... ☆ ˳ ︶⟡︶︶⠀୨୧⠀︶︶⟡︶ ˳ ☆ ☆ㅤi linger at the back of the group so i can spend ㅤㅤmore time looking at a particular painting. ㅤㅤthis is my first time at an art museum. the ㅤㅤbright and spacious gallery is brimming with ㅤㅤworks of art. being in this elegant space fills ㅤㅤme with joy. ㅤㅤand it's wonderful to finally observe this ㅤㅤpainting without distraction. ㅤㅤsomeone talking loudly at the front of the ㅤㅤgroup draws my attention. ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ"look at the lady in this painting. doesn't she ㅤㅤㅤㅤremind you of kuriyama?" ㅤㅤ"hah! she does look like kuriyama!" ㅤㅤ"hey, kuriyama! i think this is you all grown ㅤㅤup! come see!" ㅤㅤoh no, they're at it again. ㅤㅤthe group parts to clear a path for me. i feel ㅤㅤㅤㅤeveryone's eyes on me as i make my way to ㅤㅤthe painting in question. ㅤㅤthe subject of the painting is a plump mother ㅤㅤㅤㅤnursing a baby in her arms. she looks calm ㅤㅤand gentle. ㅤㅤi'm so entranced by her nurturing demeanor that ㅤㅤi almost forget about my classmates, until they ㅤㅤㅤstart making fun of me again. ㅤㅤ"it's like a mirror, huh?" ㅤㅤ"you're the splitting image of this whale." ㅤㅤtheir words are like knives, sharp and cutting, ㅤㅤbut i'm used to their taunts by now. ㅤㅤi hear my mom's voice in my head, ㅤㅤimparting scathing words. ㅤㅤ"only the weak and incompetent allow ㅤㅤthemselves to be bullied." ㅤㅤi glare at the boy who's laughing the hardest. ㅤㅤi take a deep breath and am about to ㅤㅤconfront him when a woman's voice rings ㅤㅤout. ㅤㅤ"how would you like it if someone treated ㅤㅤyou that way?" ㅤㅤher clear voice rings out, stopping the ㅤㅤconflict from escalating. i turn to look in ㅤㅤher direction. sunlight pours through the ㅤㅤglass roof, haloing her in golden light. ㅤㅤi squint and try to make her face out through ㅤㅤthe glare, but i can't see her. i start ㅤㅤcrying uncontrollably. tears pour down my ㅤㅤcheeks. ☆ㅤ"that's weird ... when did i fall asleep?" the afternoon sun is hot on my forehead. i rub my eyes, and the view outside gradually becomes clearer. almost home. when i was in college, i spent all my time off on campus in tokyo, even though it's only a about a half hour drive from yokohama. i'd rather not return to my cold, depressing childhood home. but i have to, because i've just been hired by a prominent company that's located in my hometown. the train approaches the station. the lights in the car begin to dim. ☆ㅤthe house is quiet. dad's probably still at work, i didn't tell him i was coming. i'd like to share the good news with him, but i'm sure he'll just give me a moody response. i decide to change into something comfy and take a rest, but i notice something unusual. a thin layer of dust has accumulated on the living room floor, and there's a vase filled with withered flowers on the table. "what's this?" i grab a crumpled paper from the floor and turn it over. it's a letter, and it's addressed to my dad. reading it makes me gasp. my stomach falls to my knees. "mortgage.. ? default .. ? forclosure?" someone knocks rapidly on the door. my heartbeat immediately quickens. "dad?" i open the door. several men in black suits eye me suspiciously. "who are you?" "we're from the central bank of yokohama. is kuriyama hidekazu home?" "he's not in." "what's your relationship to him?" "he's my father.." i'm so anxious, i can barely keep my voice steady. "miss kuriyama, your father took out a mortgage with our bank six months ago. he's since defaulted, and now his whereabouts are unknown. today's the date of foreclosure." whereabouts unknown? dad's missing? "i just came back home today. this is the first time i've heard of this. let me know what information you need, and i'll do my best to obtain it for you." "that won't be necessary. we're only concerned about repossessing the property." "i see. how long has my father been missing?" "we're not sure exactly, but the bank has been unable to reach him for two months." "i understand. thank you." a neighbor opens their door a crack. no doubt they're trying to eavesdrop. "can i pack a few things, please? it'll take about 15 minutes." "of course." when i let go of the doorframe, i realize ive been grasping it so tightly my hand aches. i lived here my whole life since college. at one point, all i wanted was to escape this place. i never imagined a group of strangers would evict me. after i finish packing, i drag my suitcase to the stairs and leave without looking back. ☆ ˳ ︶⟡︶︶⠀୨୧⠀︶︶⟡︶ ˳ ☆ ㅤㅤi apologize for how uninteresting this ㅤㅤfirst part is, ep 2 will be longer and far more ㅤㅤinteresting ... TRUST ME.
