along the path Tan sorry," she said, taking my amm and shaking her bead. -I didn't mean to hurt you. Try not to let what I said boder you. Really, rm som was just angry at myself" 1 supose I don't really understand you yet" I said "rm not all that smart. It takes me a while to understand things. But if I do have the time, I come to understand you better than anyone else in the world." We came to a sop and stood in the silent forest, listening. I tumbled and cicada shells with my toecap, then looked up at the pinecomes patches of sky showing through the pine branches Hands in pockets. Naoko stood there thinking, her eyes focused on nothing in particular. "Tell me something. Toru," she said "Do you love me?" "You know I do." "will you do me two favors?" "You can have up to three wishes, Madame." Naoko smiled and shook her head "No, two will do. One is for you to realize bow grateful I am that you came to see me here. I hope youn understand how happy you've made me. I know it's going to save me if anything will Imay not show it, but it's true." Tu come to see you again. I said "And what is the other wish?" "I want you always to remember me. Will you remember that I existed and that I stood next to you here like this?" "Always, "I said Til always remember." sbe walked on without speaking. The autumn light filtering through the branches danced over the shoulders of her jacket. A dog barked again closer than before. Naoko climbed a small mound, walked out of the forest and humied down a gentle slope. Ifollowed two or three steps behind "Come over bere." I called towards her back The well might be around here somewhere." Naoko stopped and smiled and took my am We walked the rest of the way side by side. "Do you really