You grow a story of emotion, between two very real characters. Although this is a fantasy, the fantastical elements are only part of it. The story within a story approach can be a hard one to pull off, but you balance this really well, my desire to hear more about Clare and Mr Okubo was perfectly matched to his actual story.

This had hints a fairy tales, and myths and legends, as well as history and the very real horrors of mankind. The way you contrast the build in the story Mr Okubo tells, with the pacing of the story in the nursing home, the lack of interest from the nurses, matching the unravelling of happiness in his tale. I love that Clare sticks her gum to a chair. A lovely middle finger to the establishment lol. The tender act of sharing precut fruit salad, showing a level of thoughtfulness shows such a connection growing. So much sadness, but balanced with former joy, the two sides, beautifully contrast, this is so well told. The idea of living on, of having to, the burden that is both a weight to be bore, but also a torch that lights the way, that drives him on, a responsibility to her that he has to live, its just so moving. Heart break is very much your gift. I didn’t get it was the plane in the box at the end, but I am not sure that was a bad thing, as it was left to my imagination as I wondered for a few days, I had thought perhaps, it was another bit of quartz, that Clare would also return to the ocean. It being the thing they had first broken into conversation over is a really lovely touch though, bringing the ending back to beginning. Beautiful <3