….What went wrong? I thought to myself as I was driving down a pretty empty country road. The scenery that had appeared in my headlights reminded me of something, I can't seem to remember it clearly though. Now without realizing, I turned into the direction of the rock formations where I went sightseeing with Miyuki. I had just signed my part of the divorce papers and mailed them off, they were a bit crumpled but I'm sure it's fine. Stuck in my mind we're the emotions I felt when dropping off the envelope into the post box. The grip I had on the steering wheel tightened, trying to stop myself from having these thoughts.
It's been two weeks since my wife, Miyuki, left the house suddenly, i say "suddenly" but there were omens. In all of the six years that we have been married, we were never able to be blessed with a child, so we went to the hospital for an examination. That's where everything went wrong.
"The problem appears to be with your wife, sir." The doctor notified me with a voice that can only be described as devoid of emotion.
He then gave us the results, and it wasn't that she couldn't get pregnant at all, but the chance of conceiving a child was very low. At that very moment, Miyuki's smile had completely vanished from her face. The always positive, cheerful, and encouraging wife I once knew was only someone in memory.
I have myself to blame for carelessly throwing around comments like, "When we get married, I'd like to have two or three children." Or. "I know for a fact that our children will be precious."
As we were on our way home from the hospital I said.
"Having children isn't all there is in a marriage, you know"
"I'm sorry." Miyuki replied with a shaky voice and red eyes.
After two weeks have passed, Miyuki vanished, with only having left a note behind that had this written.
"I'm sorry, please forget about me." With divorce papers next to it. Panicking, I tried to call her but had no luck whatsoever, and all of the messages I sent were left on read.
I got into contact with her family and workplace, but the only responses I received were apologies or shock, which only meant that I have been left with no sense of her whereabouts. Just as I was about to give up, my wife's best friend, Eri Hironaka, popped into my head.
If she were to stay with someone during difficult times, it had to be with her best friend.
Me, Miyuki, Eri, and my best friend, Yoshito Yoshimoto, have been hanging out with each other since college, doing many fun activities together. Miyuki and Eri were mainly close, having been friends since they were in high school, and roommates throughout their four years of college.
Having little hope left, I decided to call Eri, but someone else answered the phone meaning she must've changed her number.
"It's fine, I'm sure she's with Eri." I told myself to be reassured about her safety and well being.
A month had passed by and I suddenly received a message from Miyuki asking if we could meetup at a café. When I showed up, she was there waiting for me, but not alone, she was with my best friend, Yoshito. They both struggled to look directly at me, looking away at times.
Even after graduating from college, Yoshito and I kept in touch, often talking about work, what we've been up to. I've had this sort of habit of worrying about something excessively, and he'd be there to help me out, majority of the time helping me laugh it off. Even to this day, he has been one of my emotional supporters. Now, reuniting with my best friend, I can tell he wasn't in the mood for a joyful greeting.
"Yasuhito, I'm sorry… Yoshito and I… we're together now.." Miyuki suddenly announced while looking down.
What she told me struck me with an immense amount of shock, I couldn't even speak. One thing I remember is Miyuki having a crush on Yoshito the majority of our time hanging out together in college. Even so, I began dating her in the most pathetic way possible, and eventually married her. Maybe I was receiving my punishment for that, it was odd, but that's something I had myself believing. To no surprise, I was feeling angry and heartbroken, but I didn't yell at them. I can't deny that I said some pretty mean things to them with a mix of sarcasm here and there, and ended up feeling guilty about and apologized to them quickly and left without looking back at all.
"Wait! Yasuhito!" I heard Miyuki and Yoshito yell out as I was walking away but didn't bother to turn around.
I never forgave or held a grudge against the both of them, they should have been together from the very beginning. Yoshito's an outgoing, hyper, and very positive person, which is the complete opposite of what I am. He always speaks his mind to others instead of being cowardly and hiding how he truly feels. Them being together is something that I really wished for back then.
Still driving, I began to feel depressed, and turned on the radio to take my mind off things, but a song from Miyuki's favorite song began to play. It was an up-beat type of melody, and the lyrics were referencing a breakup. The further that I decide to follow this country road, the more bleak my surroundings become. There aren't any sort of stores around, the houses seem to be a lot more scattered around, and the darkness has begun to deepen. Some time I passed by a factory, the drive made it towards a lonely farm road without a sign that could be spotted.
"Come to think of it, I feel as if I've seen this place before." I began to think to myself but instantly regretted it.
I remember Miyuki and I would go on driving dates during the weekend nights when we would be free. We would go without having a specific destination in mind, turning off the car navigation, and not looking at maps, just driving without having a single idea in mind as to where we would be heading. The person that suggested this random idea was Miyuki herself. If I'm being completely honest, the idea did make me feel a bit anxious, possibly getting lost without having an idea where we are, how much gas I have left, but Miyuki loved it, mentioning that she loved the thrill of it. And with Miyuki, these trips would be very enjoyable. Remembering that gives me a quick feeling of peace, with it instantly turning into sadness. I stepped on the gas, thinking it could help shake off the sadness a little. I arrived at an intersection that didn't have a traffic signal, but by the time I noticed it, there was a vehicle approaching on the left, now realizing it was too late to do something
"Miyuki, please live a happy life." Was the only thing I could think to myself before a huge impact slammed into my car.