Another Blackout
The power outage at their house in Sendai, perhaps seven years ago. A summer storm, not snow. Lightning struck a nearby transformer. Darkness arrived suddenly, followed by Hana’s frightened scream (four years old) and the pounding footsteps of Kaito (seven years old) running down the stairs. They gathered candles—the scented ones, the ones meant only for decoration—and lit them on the coffee table. The light flickered, creating giant shadows that danced on the walls. Souta, with practical instinct, went to look for a flashlight and a battery-powered radio. Sayaka gathered the children on the sofa, reading stories in a calm voice, creating a narrative in which the blackout was an adventure, not a disaster. When Souta returned, he saw the four of them—lit by candlelight, wrapped in blanket
- Writer
