The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

THE HEAD IN THE HALLWAY

Masako felt as if she could remember whatever it was that had happened if she really put her mind to it. But she was afraid the memory might be too painful for her to bear. So several frustrating days went by. It was actually during that period that Yoshio started to wet his bed again.

“What is it this time?” asked Masako. “The woman with the scissors isn’t there any more, right?”

“No, she isn’t…” replied Yoshio. “It’s just that…” Yoshio’s voice trailed off into incomprehensible mumbling.

Later on, long after they’d gone to bed, Masako awoke in the middle of the night and tried again to help Yoshio overcome his fear.

“Come on, Yoshio,” she said, shaking him awake, “let’s take you to the bathroom.”

“But…” Yoshio mumbled, sleepily.

“Come on, hurry up, or you’re going to wet the bed again.”

“But I don’t want to go yet.”

“But you have to go. Oh… I see. You’re scared again, aren’t you? You’re back to being a big scaredy-cat!”

“No, that’s not why.”

“Well then, go!”

Yoshio pulled back the covers and got out of bed. Then he walked out into the hallway slowly. As for Masako, she was feeling quite satisfied with herself, so she rolled over onto her side and closed her eyes. But before she could fall back to sleep, Yoshio came back into the room with his face as pale as a sheet. Then he sat down next to Masako and began to cry.

“What’s the matter?” asked Masako, surprised.

“At the corner of the hallway, there’s a man’s head on the floor,” sobbed Yoshio.

“What?” said Masako, sitting upright. “That’s impossible. You must have just dreamt it!”

“No, it’s really there… covered in blood, and rolling around on the floor.”

Overwhelmed with fear, Yoshio threw himself into Masako’s arms, trembling. Masako tried to be brave, but she was so scared by Yoshio’s story that she had to make an effort to stop her teeth from chattering.