Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the downpour in Anya’s eyes when she first moved to Japan. Now, years later, she was sitting in her cozy living room, sipping tea. Her husband, Kenji, was usually glued to the television, but tonight, he was beside her, a book open in his hands.

He looked up at her, and said, "Anya, how do you say 'The cherry blossoms are beautiful'?" in flawless English. She laughed, a sound bubbling up from deep within. The tremor in her voice wasn't from sadness, not anymore.

Kenji, a man of few words, had chosen a gesture of language to show her how he cared. She reached over and squeezed his hand, a silent thank you that resonated in the quiet room. He returned the gesture with a soft smile.