It was already evening when Akiko woke up on Sunday, the week’s lack of sleep finally catching up with her. Saturday night’s visit to the shrine had been completely uneventful, and she’d been in bed before two am; she looked at the clock telling her it was already after five in disbelief. Her cell phone was blinking at her, indicating numerous messages, which meant that she had slept through that, as well. And her body still felt heavy as she dragged herself to the phone.

Twelve missed calls. She called up the details, her heart sinking as she went through the list. None from Naoyuki; twelve from her mother, the most recent only half an hour earlier. She sighed, realising that there was no way to get away from calling back. Even so, she didn’t make the call immediately. There were so many reasons why she didn’t want to have a conversation about her marriage prospects just then.

Sitting up and shaking herself, she placed the call.

“Hello, Akiko?â€

“Yes, Mum. How are you?â€

“So nice to hear from you. It’s ages since you called.â€

“Mum, it can’t be more than a couple of weeks.â€

“That was me calling you. I don’t know how long it is since you called me.â€ Akiko had to admit that she wasn’t sure, either, but she wasn’t about to say that.

“Anyway, Mum, I’ve called now. How are you?â€

“Oh, I’m fine.â€

“And how’s Dad?â€

“Same as ever. Looking forward to retiring.â€ Akiko smiled, briefly. She could easily imagine.

“I’m sure he is.â€

“And looking forward to being a grandfather. He says he’ll have lots of time for grandchildren once he’s retired.â€ Akiko stifled the groan, keeping it silent. Her mother wasted very little time.

“Mother, I’m not even married yet.â€

“And when can we expect to hear wedding bells? How is that nice young man?â€

“He’s fine, Mum.â€

“Fine? That doesn’t sound very enthusiastic. Are you having problems? You really need to find the right man soon, so if he isn’t the one, you mustn’t mess about.â€

“Mum!â€ Akiko was a bit more forceful than she’d intended. “There are no problems. Everything is going well. I don’t know whether we’re going to get married, but I don’t know that we aren’t. There’s just nothing to report.â€ Even as she said it, she felt guilty. Right out lying to her mother felt wrong, even though she couldn’t think of any alternative. There was no way to mention the problems without raising a whole set of issues she just couldn’t talk about. She wondered if she’d ever find anyone she could talk to about the events at the shrine, and realised that her mother had started asking another question.

“…at work?â€ was all Akiko heard.

“I’m sorry, there was interference. What was that?â€

“How are things going at work?â€

“Oh, the usual. More overtime than normal last week, so I’m very tired today.â€ Akiko saw an opportunity, and seized it. “Actually, I’ve only just woken up, so I really need to get something to eat. Talk to you again later.â€

She hung up before her mother could press her any further.