77 years ago today: Atomic Bomb Memorial Day

Today is August 9th, 77 years ago, the day the atomic bomb was dropped.

At that moment the siren sounded.

"After a huge flash of light, all sound in the world disappeared and there was silence...

Then there was a huge explosion..."

Just this one experience alone,

"There's no turning back now."

"Is it really true that we can't turn back time?"

"It's a miracle that people can survive after going through something like this."

Such words run through my mind as someone with no knowledge of the atomic bomb.

At the sound of the siren at 11 o'clock

I stopped hanging out the laundry.

I closed my eyes and stood there still.

And what appeared in the depths of my eyes

It was a time when sound disappeared from the world.

There, all life holds its breath,

Facing an inescapable reality

I pray that time will stop just like this

It was a long pause.

And then,

The water is overflowing

I had a feeling that filled my heart.

Is it a vast ocean of tears of great human sorrow?

My brain was filled with that ocean, and when I sat still,

The sea begins to shine with light, and the waves seem to heal me.

He accepted my helpless feelings.

Even in these terrible times, there is help,

There was love between those who were close to life.

That's how I felt.

- Kyoko