Cicada [Modern Hyakumonogatari: Kowai Hanashi 20/99]

Cicada (蝉)

By Nishiurawa in "Modern Hyakumonogatari: Kowai Hanashi"
   Kimijima returned to her home in Tohoku for her mother's vigil. It was the first time she had been back home in a while.
   She was sitting with her mother who had grown cold and was talking with the guests.
   Finally she was alone and it was late at night.
   She sat down in front of the altar, lit a stick of incense, and began her all-night watch.
   But she felt a tiredness and started to doze off.
   Ji, ji, ji, ji, ji, ji, ji, ji, ji, ji, ji......
   She heard the sound of a cicada outside. Suddenly opening her eyes, she slowly turned to look out the window.
   The landscape was covered with a blanket of snow.
   (Mom really loved summer, didn't she...)

   She looked at the altar and the incense she had lit before had just burned out.