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Shocking news
Imagine what the life of a girl like that on the right must be like. She probably likes to watch television, and know her favourite stories by heart. Likes to draw what seems to be part of Picasso's Alzheimer Period, if it ever existed, but is very passionate about her works, seeking attention and the approval of adults around her. She's probably a joker, being silly and playing with other children. Can wear shoes but doesn't really understand how the whole lace-tying works. Tries to handle food and pretends to cook, being the best mud pie baker in the household. Has very definite likes and dislikes, but still needs help getting dressed because of those annoying zippers, buttons and snaps. Her days are full of busy explorations of her world, as a lot of what she experiences is quite new to her.
Her 1-year-old brother has just mastered the basics of walking, though crawling is still a favourite way of going back and forth around the house. He's just learned he can use a spoon by himself, though the results vary wildly, and he can also hold and drink from a cup. Cries when his mother is unhappy with him, and he's a very keen observer, imitating her mother whenever he sees her write (though his scribbles are yet to be deciphered). Most importantly, he knows the most existential of all words. Namely, "no".
Now imagine her mother just left the house promising to get some yoghurt for them on her way back. And she eagerly waits, watching cartoons and looking after her younger brother in the mean time (she's the big sister after all!). They get hungry and, though she knows how to speed dial, her mother doesn't answer. As a matter of fact, no one does. The front door is locked and they live in an apartment.
As time passes, the neighbours hear their screams and call the authorities. The authorities buzz the intercom, which she can't reach, and leave off. The neighbours call once more; authorities buzz the intercom, assume it's a prank call. Neighbours insist. Authorities ignore, no more pranks.
The sun goes up and down, and she's still waiting for her mother to come back with her yoghurt. They raided the fridge, consuming all they could reach. She'd give pieces of cheese to her brother, and anything he could chew on. One day, they ran out of food, and the tap water just didn't fool their stomachs any longer. The intercom would make funny noises every now and then, but neither of them could reach it. She tried to climb a chair once but as soon as she got near the intercom, it was silent.
That's when she noticed her brother was sleeping for too long, and had a funny look on his face. She'd call him, but to no avail. Weak though she was, she took him to his room, and let him lay down on an improvised bed by his crib. He stank as she didn't really know the basics of diapering herself. A couple of days later, she joined her brother in his sleep.
Their mother returned, saw them, and left once again. Her name is Sanae Shimomura, 23. The bodies of Shimomura's daughter Sakurako Hagi, 3, and son Kaede Hagi, 1, were discovered in her early on the morning of July 30. She was then under arrest.
My fiancée was visibly shaken by this story, as she deals with small children in a daily basis. When she told me about it, I imagined this short story, and how terrifying it must've been to the kids. The previous saddest news I could think of, and that really impressed me, was the story of a woman whose husband and only child died in a mudslide. The moment she received the news, and her world crumbled under her feet, she died of a heart attack. I tried to imagine how painful it must've been for her to lose her world - and then her life - in a matter of minutes. Sure, my interest in language plays a role here: she never saw her beloved ones after the mudslide, being told they were dead was enough for her to give up living. Still, it made me miserable for a whole week.
Do you often feel this bad after receiving some bad news about people you've never met? If so, what does it feel? If not, why not?
CORe version: Children were left to die. Lira's other half was sad. Lira too was a sad panda soon afterwards.
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