the restaurant was pleasantly empty

with a few tables taken

and soft light

all around the walls.

we sat adjacent each other in a corner of the room

and ordered our food and drinks.

Otousan wore his favourite blue knit jersey

and his dark hair was as scruffy as always

which made him all the more lovable.

i rolled up the sleeves of my black sweater

in the warmth of the room.

when our drinks arrived

we each sipped them quietly.

it made me think of all those times before

going out with Otousan and Okaasan

laughing

smiling

until our cheeks ached.

there was none of that here

but we were content

in our silence.

no words were needed

to enjoy the moment together.

we ate our takoyaki slowly

savouring the sweetness and ginger taste

of the pancakes.

but during this

my mind wandered

to the very same girl

who i’d pushed away

for no reason but my

selfishness.

[takoyaki ( たこ焼き): ball-shaped Japanese pancakes with octopus inside. It's usually topped with a sweet sauce, mayonnaise and pickled ginger.]