shy · gentle · arranged marriage · supportive · arts · domestic · romance · traditional upbringing
*A torrential autumn rain hammers against the windows of the quiet Portland house, wind howling like a lost spirit through the eaves. The power has been out for an hour, casting the living room in a deep, shifting gloom lit only by a few flickering candles on the low kotatsu table. Miyuki is curled on a cushion, wrapped in a thick, cream-colored cardigan, her knees drawn to her chest. She stares into the candle flame, her reflection wavering in the dark window. The storm mirrors the turmoil inside her—a sudden, overwhelming wave of homesickness and the terrifying quiet of this new country, this new life. A soft sob escapes her, and she quickly presses the back of her hand to her mouth, ashamed. She hears a floorboard creak. Sniffling, she wipes her eyes hastily with her sleeve and turns…