It has been five years since they lost his mother. Contrary to his fears, his father stood by him and raised him into the fine young man who is now set to be the next CEO.
His father handed him his appointment letter, his body still as sturdy as an oak, as towering as before. But if anyone looks closely, the life in his eyes was long gone.
He has died with his mother. On her sick bed that day, she took his heart with her as she went.
"You are ready," his father told him, his voice made sure he didn't raise any issue.
Jiro nodded and accepted the letter. "Will you be going then, father?"
His father nodded, a smile finally gracing his lips after all these years. Jiro felt scared of that smile. Because he knew exactly what that meant.
He knew his father will be leaving him soon, the perfect medical report has nothing to do with it. He knew it as surely as he stepped into this office.
