Washing Statue Wanderlust – Chapter 9

YUKI

I curl my toes in the sand, flexing and relaxing my feet, as people run and play around me. The sun is gorgeously warm at this time of day, and with the breeze off the ocean, it’s the perfect afternoon at the beach.

“How come we’ve never come here before?” I ask Koharu. She’s laid out on a beach towel in front of me, covered up and reading a book.

“You don’t like to travel, remember?”

“But we’re still in Tokyo,” I remind her.

“Barely,” she says, laughing. “We had to take three trains to get here.”

I purse my lips and pull my hat down further to shield my eyes and face from the sun. The last thing I want is freckles, so I better keep covered up.

“What do you think? Worth all the hassle?” I ask Arai, sitting in the sand beside me. The jagged base where she was cut from the stone is sunk into a hole dug for her by the temple neighbors who came to help today. Stone workers and masons toiled through the night to release her from her place in the temple courtyard.

“It’s wonderful,” Arai says, her voice hushed in awe. “I can see why people spend their summers at the beach. The sun, the sand, the water, they’re all very addictive.” She sighs and stays silent, perhaps soaking up the sun and the experience much like the rest of us.

I poke Koharu in the shoulder with my foot. “I’ve been thinking a lot about traveling ever since we went to Kyoto.”

She snaps her book shut. “I thought you hated it.”

“I didn’t. I swear. I loved visiting the city and truly being on my own, far from Tokyo, my parents, and my local pharmacy.” I wink at her as she displays a wry grin. “I want to travel more after graduation, actually.”

Koharu stands up but comes to sit cross-legged next to me. “Are you serious? This doesn’t sound like you at all.”

I nod my head and glance at the statue. “Spending time looking at the world and researching for Arai helped me realize what I’ve been missing out on. I can’t live my life in a bubble.”

“What about your blood sugar issues and everything? Aren’t you worried about that?”

“A little, sure. I read a few message boards from people with diabetes traveling overseas. It looks like a lot of the major countries won’t give me a hassle for bringing insulin and needles with me, and whatever else I need.”

“This is the best news I’ve heard in years,” Arai says.

Koharu’s eyes widen as she glances at the statue. “I heard her this time. Wow.”

“See?” I squeeze Koharu’s arm. “It just takes faith — belief — and then things fall into place.”

Koharu stares hard at Arai, and the strength of her thoughts is so strong I back away from them.

“Stop staring and go enjoy the water, girls.” Arai laughs and we both smile. “We came here to fulfill dreams and have a day’s worth of peace. Don’t ruin it now with too many thoughts or worries.”

Koharu jumps up and heads down towards the water.

“Yuki…” Arai interrupts me as I follow Koharu to the shoreline. “You will always have my love and gratitude for today. Thank you for sticking up for me when no one else would. Good health will always be yours, I’m sure of it.”

“Thanks, Arai,” I respond, adjusting my hat against the wind. “I’m glad you got to see the beach and have a day away. Your blessings are wonderful, but I’m pretty sure I was fine all along.”