There once was a boy called Soku.
His mother, who was college educated, a rarity for the time, was pregnant with Soku shortly after graduation, and devoted herself to his upbringing.
The education he received from his mother was strict. It would be better to say she was more like a parent than a teacher. Somewhere along the way, Soku felt trapped by her attitude.
Thanks to his education, Soku was accepted to the country’s leading university, but his mother died soon after.
She died entirely too soon, but the singular blessing was the fact that she died without suffering.
Even after graduating, Soku continued his studies. It would have been nice to say he escaped his mother’s yolk and rejoiced in his freedom.
However, at one point Soku noticed a familiar voice whispering something in his ear. It was his mother’s voice. In any place, at any time, from when he was studying alone to when he was in some degree of trouble, his mother would appear beside him and give advice to Soku.
At first it made him sick, but before long he got used to it and stopped caring.
In time, he and a woman had a son. Soku decided he would never do to his son what his mother did to him. When there was a disagreement, he listened carefully, when his son was upset, Soku rubbed his back until he calmed down, and any wish his son had, Soku would fulfill it.
When his son was severely burned by a pot of hot water that splashed on his face, Soku stayed with him in the hospital for three days and three nights. It left a mark on his forehead, but he took good care of it so that his son could be proud of the scar.
One autumn day, Soku drank so much he couldn’t fall asleep. When he left his bed and went to the bathroom, he found himself doing his business, but instead of being surprised, Soku calmly assumed that he was dreaming. After he finished up and turned around, Soku recognized the prominent burn mark on his forehead. The man’s eyes widened and he fell back, not even bothering to brace his hands on the bathroom floor. He looked as if he had seen a ghost, and Soku laughed, then nodded.
The next morning, his son was sleeping beside him. He was old enough to be graduating from elementary school soon. Seeing his innocent, peaceful sleeping face, he left the bed so as not to wake him.
While preparing breakfast, Soku suddenly realized that he could no longer hear his mother’s voice, which had been ringing so loudly in his ear.