Hidden Secrets by Ai Matsumi (epub e ink reader .txt) 📖

I first saw Akane in the park. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and she was putting a band aid on a little girl's knee. She was smiling so happily. She just seemed to radiate happiness. I felt drawn to her. I walked over and sat beside her on the bench. She smiled at me hello.
"Hi." I said, my voice hoarse. I know, I'm such a charmer. She smiled brightly at me. God I loved that smile.
"Hey there." she said.
"So uh, which ones yours?" I asked, my palms sweaty.
"Me? I don't have a child. What about you?" she asked brightly.
"I used to. Akinori was twelve when he died. He and I used to come here all the time. He's up in heaven with his mother now..." I sighed. Akane gasped and covered her mouth.
"I am so, so sorry. I know how you feel." she said, placing her delicate hand on my knee.
"What do you mean?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"My husband and I wanted a child. We tried for months and finally I got pregnant. Six months into my pregnancy, I found out that my baby died. That was a month ago." said Akane sighing. I placed my hand on top of her hand.
"I'm so sorry." I said sadly. She smiled at me.
"It's okay." she said chuckling.
"You know, for someone who's gone through so much, you smile a lot." I said trying to be humorous. She smiled at me.
"Sometimes the people who smile the most are the people who have been hurt the most." she said. She got up and smiled at me.
"Hey, what's your name?" she asked.
"Huh? Oh. Hiroki. Why?"
"Just wondering. Hiroki. Your name means joy. It was an absolute pleasure meeting you Hiroki." she said smiling. She waved goodbye and left. I stood up and left.


I unlocked my apartment door and sat down. I fixed myself a microwave meal and sat down at the table. I ate my food and read the paper. As I was eating, something was pushed into my mailbox. I didn't get it till I was about to go to bed. As I was getting my pajamas on and cleaning up, I got the letter and sat down on the couch and read it.
Dear Hiroki san.
I've only known you for a day but I feel like I have known you for a life time. I...I just felt like I needed to tell someone. I'm committing suicide. I have no one. My son is dead, my husband tried to kill me and almost did, killing himself in the process. All of my family is dead. You Hiroki san brought joy into my life. You brought a glimmer of joy into my hopeless world. Thank you. Like I said, sometimes the people who smile the most are the ones who've been hurt the most.
Sincerely thankful,
Akane

I just sat there. I couldn't register it. I snatched the TV remote up and turned on the news. I saw the little banner going across the screen. Young woman kills herself. I turned the volume up and listened.
"Today, a wonderful life has ended. A young woman named Akane Hatsumi has left us. She was a well known around the community. She hung herself this evening leaving a note written in blood on the wall saying, sometimes the ones who smile the most have been hurt the most." I turned off the TV. I leaned my head against the couch as a tear slid down my cheek. The people who smile the most have usually been hurt the most...

Word count: 603

Text: This is the legal property of ME. No reproduction is allowed without my EXPRESS permission.
Images: Cover photo: http://www.sodahead.com/living/how-do-you-want-to-be-remembered/question-2506297/?link=ibaf&q=&imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2243286774_1e1d421de0.jpg
Editing: Editor: Ai Matsumi
Publication Date: 06-10-2012

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