It had been two months since Biyu passed, and Nazo was still sunken. His days were slow, spent frequently just sitting and staring at nothing. Lost in thought. No direction. No motivation. He had sold his tobacco shop to a friend last year so that he would have time to spend with Biyu. However, he still found his way there several times a week. Walking to the shop was his ritual.

Yesterday's snow was enough to keep most people indoors today. But suddenly Nazo felt something inside himself change. He fixed himself his morning tea and sat at his table, alone, trying to read the news on his laptop. His desktop contained a file called "BiyuObit.doc". He clicked it, and read the short information:

Biyu Liu Yamauchi

Taito, Tokyo

1933 - 2017

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For her birthday last month, Nazo had set out two baijiu glasses. There was a single bottle of Shanniangjiu in the refrigerator, which they had last enjoyed for Nazo's birthday in the summer. Nazo poured some into the glass closest to him. He hesitated about whether to fill the other glass. He decided it would be bad luck to leave it empty, even though his wife had been gone since a month before her birthday. He raised his glass, and uttered, proudly:

"Love has brought our spirits together. If we permit it to lead us, good fortune will come our way."

He lifted his glass higher and whispered:

"Kenko de aru"

With this last phrase, he paused for a moment, then swallowed the semi-sweet wine in one go. He traded his empty glass for the other one, raised it, and exclaimed:

"Hai, hai... kenko de aru"

This was the way they had toasted each other each year on their birthdays. It seemed poignant, almost ironic now. Nazo closed his eyes as he poured the wine down his throat. He let out a small sigh, and placed the empty glass back on the table.

At his computer, Nazo opened his photos, and clicked through a series of selfies and couples shots, showing Biyu in her more vibrant state.