The Japanese Gentleman

Millay took another taste of water as the lemon slice now drifted to the bottom of the glass. Once, many years ago, a Japanese gentleman stayed for a winter at the Paradise Cafe. He was handsome, hair like ink, old eyes, perfect lips, cheekbones of high certainty. He was quiet and would sit facing the sun, moving his chair at intervals east, to south, to west. At times he would pick up a black fountain pen and write for a few moments in a red leather journal. He drank his water with lemon and ate a daily round of bread. Millay watched him from the bar and, from time to time, glanced up to see how far the gentleman had moved. Occasionally he would smoke a cigarette which he took from a silver case. His lighter was inlaid with lapis lazuli. He never brought a book with him to read. Journal, pen, cigarette case and lighter lay on the table. Sometimes he would take deep breaths, inhaling the fragrance of lavender from the fields outside the village. He seemed patient. He wasn’t waiting. He was sitting. He was established there in the sun on the patio of Paradise, moving slowly and deliberately through each day. Certainty, grace and beauty emanated from him. He would smile shyly at Millay, his eyes somewhat lowered. One day, the morning of the afternoon he was to leave on the ferry, he said to Millay, “The Taoists say that once you have told someone your feelings there is no need of those words to be spoken again. I love you. I have been loving you everyday. I will love you forever.  Harigato,” and bowing slightly he crossed the street, boarded the ferry, bound for the mainland. Sometimes someone showers you with love without touching you ~ covering you with the full gracious armor of love. Millay refilled her glass with water from the carafe beside her bed. She removed the slice of lemon and bit into it, refreshed by its tartness. She replaced it with one from the white plate. Three slices of lemon left. Somewhere the Japanese gentleman was still loving her.

from Lovers Are Islands, a novella by Davyne Verstandig