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Evening (One Act)Author: Miyamoto Yuriko
| Original Title | 宵（一幕） |
|---|---|
| Author | 宮本 百合子 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Female Author |
| Summary | In a tranquil Tokyo home, pediatrician Ryōzō and his wife Yasuko share a quiet autumn evening meal, their domestic harmony underscored by meticulous details of their traditional tearoom. The peace shatters when a letter arrives from Mrs. Yanagida, a grieving mother whose child recently died. Her accusatory tone—implying Ryōzō’s negligence—ignites tension between the couple. Yasuko, empathetic and shaken, urges compassion, while Ryōzō deflects with defensive pragmatism, dismissing the guilt levied at his profession. \nTheir fragile equilibrium fractures further when their own infant daughter, Tsuyako, suddenly falls ill. Blood trickling from the child’s ear sends Yasuko into panic, exposing Ryōzō’s vulnerability as both father and physician. Desperate calls for help reveal cracks in his professional alliances, while Yasuko’s maternal instincts clash with his clinical detachment. \nAs shadows of past choices and present fears converge, the couple’s bond strains under the weight of duty, pride, and love. Whispers of unresolved guilt and the specter of loss linger, leaving readers to wonder: Can trust endure when life’s fragility exposes hidden fault lines? |
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