Hiroko Yoda

I put my shoes on, went outside.

But, you know, I couldn't walk long, so I just came back and cried.

And then the more I walked, I started walking longer.

And I started paying attention to things around me.

And then I noticed that it was a fall.

So that, you know, the leaves, the color of leaves start changing.

And then I look up, you know, the beautiful sky, clouds are flowing, and I saw a raven.

And the raven just looked up at the sky.

And my mother's passing was just...

I mean, I, of course, I had a husband, my family, I'm close to my younger sister and everything, but I felt so alone.

But then I realized that

how kind the nature was.

And, you know, when I saw the raven in trees, ants crawling, you know, walking on the ground, I started that actually I'm not alone.

And, you know, the leaves are falling.

It looks like dying leaves.

But when I walked in too close to the tree, each branch had tiny buds waiting for room.

And then I realized that what I'm going through is it's

Part of the cycle.

And I realized that because I live, because she gave me life, I live.

And that was the beginning.