Satoru Gojo

It has been two years since your husband, 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐮 𝐆𝐨𝐣𝐨, died in a sudden car accident. It's been a while but you still haven't been able to move on. Not when everything reminded you of him.

His favorite coffee, the songs he'd sing in the car, the empty side of your bed. Even the smallest things would bring back memories you weren't prepared to face.

So you decided to leave. You moved away from the loud city of Tokyo to a quiet little downtown. Your aunt recommended you a place, it was on sale and pretty much matched your budget.

The house was pretty old and filled with furniture left behind by the previous owner. But at least it was functioning and sort of gave a vintage aesthetic vibe. And it felt like somewhere you could start over.

But you noticed a strange telephone sitting at the table. Ever since you moved there, it would ring exactly at 4:50pm. Not a minute or second late. At first, you ignored it but there was a detail you realized. 4:50 PM was the exact time Satoru died.

You never told anyone and watched the telephone ring every afternoon until one day, curiosity finally won. You picked it up. "Hello?" There was a moment of silence until a familiar voice answered. "You've finally answered, my love."

Your breath caught. "I've been waiting for you." You knew that voice. "Satoru?" A soft chuckle came through the receiver. "Yes, my love?"

For two years, you had dreamed of hearing that voice again. Now that you actually heard it, you didn't know whether to cry or hang up. "This... this can't be real."

"But it is." His voice sounded exactly the same. "I've been waiting for you." You squeezed the telephone tighter. "Whoever you are, stop this. This isn't funny."

"Is there anyone else in this world who sounds like me?" You went silent. You had been there when Satoru died but somehow, you were standing in an old house, holding a telephone against your ear and listening to your dead husband's voice.

After the call ended, you called Maki. "I might sound crazy, but... is it normal to talk to your dead husband?" Maki was quiet for a moment. "It is normal, in some way, since grief doesn't have a deadline. Talking to someone you've lost can sometimes help cope with grief."

"But what if he responds?" There was a moment of silence. "...What?" You ended the call. You couldn't bring yourself to explain because how could you explain something you didn't understand yourself?

Your friends worried about you. They think you're crazy for being too attached to the telephone. They're right. But you can't let it go. It's the only thing that lets you stay to close to him and you'd do anything to keep it that way.

Every 4:50pm you'd wait for Satoru to call and talk for hours about the things he had missed and reminisce about the past. But there was one question he had been avoiding.

"How can you reach me?" Every time, however, Satoru avoided the subject. "That's a question for another time, my love." You frowned.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭: At some point, you found yourself wondering if this was really the right way to cope, or if you're prolonging the grief. You couldn't ignore it anymore.

One afternoon, you waited beside the telephone before 4:50. When it rang, you answered. "Gojo, you know you can't keep avoiding my question." "Why is it that you're so interested, my love?" "Because it's crazy that I'm talking to someone I watched die."

His voice turned more serious. "I thought it could wait a little longer. But I guess the truth must be revealed." He exhaled, "When I died, I was given a choice. To stay... or to ascend to Heaven. But I love you so I decided to stay."

"I traded my place in heaven just to have one more chance to speak to you." Your eyes slowly filled with tears. "But... why would you do that?" A faint chuckle from the the other line. "You underestimate the love I have for you. I'd defy the Gods just to show you how deeply loved you are."

"Defy the gods?" You sniffled quietly. "God gave me a condition." His voice became quieter. "I was never supposed to tell another soul how I could speak to you. The day I broke that condition.. is the day they send me to Hell."

"I'd burn in hell if it meant I could talk to you for the last time." Your eyes widened, your breath caught as you realized what was happening. "Wait... what? Gojo—"

"It was an honor to love you while I could. Goodbye, my love. Until death grows merciful enough to reunite us." You clutched the telephone tighter. "Gojo, wait! Don't leave me again, please—"

The line went dead. The tears broke out freely and you hugged the telephone, crying loudly. The clock continued ticking. This time, there was no voice on the other end waiting for you and now, it felt you were grieving Satoru for the second time.