Eye of the storm

A slim young woman in her early twenties was lying alone down by the sea. She was beautiful, but her face was sad. Her long black hair fell over the book she was reading. From time to time she looked up from her book and along the beach. Then she put her book away in a bag and sat up. She looked unhappiily along the beach again.

"I can't tell him! I just can't tell him!" She whispered to herself.
(...)

A tall good-looking man about the same age as the woman was coming down the path. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans and his arms and face were brown from the sun. At the end of the path he stopped under the palm trees and looked out across the beach.

"Ikemi!" he shouted.

"Max!" The woman stood up and waved. "I'm here! Over here!"

He saw her and moved over to kiss her.

"Max, don't."

"Don't? Don't kiss you? Why not? What's the matter?" he asked.

Ikemi looked away from Max. "I'm sorry, Max, I'm so sorry, but we have to talk. There is something I have to say to you... I wish I didn't... I really wish..."

"Ikemi! What's the matter? What's going on? Tell me!"

Ikemi reached down and picked up a small stone. "It's my father," she said slowly. "He doesn't want... you and I... he says we're getting too serious. He says..." Ikemi did not finish what she was saying. Max took hold of her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"Ikemi! Tell me! What does your father say?"

"Oh Max! He says I have to stop seeing you. I can't see you anymore."

"Stop seeing me? But he can't do that!" Max looked at Ikemi in surprise. But she looked at the stone, turning it over and over in her hands.
"Ikemi! Look at me! What's going on? Why does your father want you to stop seeing me? What's the matter with me? What have I done?"

Ikemi threw the stone into the beautiful clear water.
She turned and looked at Max. "It's not what you've done, Max. It's who you are."

"Who I am? What do you mean?"

"You're American, Max. I know it's difficult for you to understad, but my father does not want me to date American men. He says there are too many differences between us, between Japanese and American people, between the way we live and the way we think."

"What? You can't be serious!" said Max. "How on earth can your father say that? Your mother was American! He married her, didn't he? He married an American! How can it be all rigth for him to marry an American but not for you? It's crazy!"

Ikemi looked away.
"I don't know, Max, I just don't know. But I do know that he isn't going to change his mind."

Max shook his head.
"Ikemi, I don't understand. You don't agree with your father, do you? Come on! (...)"

Ikemi lifted her eyes and looked al Max.
"You 're wrong, Max. I'm not free. (...) I can't go against my father."

Max looked down at Ikemi's face.
"But what about me?" Max said quietly. "And what about us? Ikemi, this is crazy! Are you going to let your father decide who you should marry? Is what your father thinks more important than loving someone?"

Ikemi didn't look at Max. She didn't want to see the hurt in his face.
"I'm sorry, Max, I'm really sorry," she whispered. "I..." But Max stood up and walked away before she could finish her sentence.

She watched him walk slowly across the beach. she wanted to run after him, throw her arms around him, kiss him. she wanted to tell him she loved him, tell him that she loved him so much it frightened her.

At the top of the beach he stopped, turned, and looked back at her. Their eyes met for a moment and then she looked away quickly.

Eye of the storm
By Mandy Loader