1Q84
Aomame
Aomame rubbed her now round stomach as she sat in the chair on their small balcony. The sun shone quietly on her as the breeze cooled her warm skin. The fresh spring day began the same way it had for the last four months since Tengo and she had been left standing staring at only one moon, the real moon. Or so she had to believe. There were still so many questions floating around in Aomame’s head. There was still so much left unanswered. After she and Tengo had climbed the ladder that led them up to Metropolitan Expressway No. 3 and out of 1Q84, the second moon had disappeared, but the Tokyo she remembered was slightly reversed. After leaving the highway and making their way to the hotel room, they resided there for a few days before deciding how to start their new life together. Even though the two of them should have felt a little overwhelmed by the fact that up until a few days ago they were simply two souls caught up in the world of 1Q84, neither of them had this sense of unease. It seemed more natural to be together, all three of them, than it had to be alone. Perhaps it was just that moment back in school when Aomame held Tengo’s hand, or perhaps there was a higher power that held them together, but there was no doubt in their minds that they were destined to be together.
And now, they were living in a little house in Hamadayama next to a park that vaguely resembled the park that Aomame appeared to Tengo in when he finally opened his eyes. The last few months had been spent settling into this place, their new home, and prepare for the little one to arrive. They still mused from time to time as to how the little one came to be inside of Aomame, but she knew that she had the Leader to thank for this miracle. He had also said there was no way back to the world of 1984. So what was this world? This was still a question Tengo and Aomame had not figured out yet. They were consumed with other issues at the moment. Aomame was getting bigger by the day and they had to prepare themselves to become parents. Aomame sipped her tea as she bathed in the warm spring sun. The feeling of something new was in the air.
Tengo
Since arriving in their new home in Hamadayama, Tengo spent his days caring for Aomame and used the rest of his time to work on his novel. Since arriving in this new world, one that they had not decided a name for yet, he felt as though his inspiration had been reborn with a much stronger passion. Hiding behind his typewriter, Tengo would burn hours typing, re-reading, editing and starting the process all over again. On more than one occasion, Aomame would have to pry Tengo away from the typewriter to eat or bathe. She seemed happy enough to leave him be when he was completely immersed in his work. Sometimes he worried she was silently resenting him for not spending more time with her but usually she sat in the sun and read a book or stretched, as much as she could in her pregnant state, on the days the weather was not as permitting. Tengo would watch her doing her exercises and stretches sometimes, and was always in awe how she got her body to move even when she was heavily pregnant. Occasionally she would let out a heavy sigh and say to Tengo, “My body is precious to me, especially now that I have the little one, but sometimes I wish I wasn’t such a round ball! So many years I kept my body fit and tight, and then you meet me just as everything starts to grow!” Tengo smiles softly at Aomame and reassures her, “You are beautiful to me Aomame and you always will be.” He looks up at her, her face pulled tightly into one of her harsh scowls, but as soon as he puts a hand to her cheek or his lips on her forehead by the time he pulls away her face has softened into the pretty Aomame he knows and loves. There was so much he was learning about Aomame and women. He had had his older girlfriend for a long time, (his mind still wonders where she went from time to time) but she never talked to Tengo about her body. He knew the Fridays she didn’t come over was because she was menstruating but that’s as far as any information like that was communicated. Now, Tengo was finally with Aomame and everything was new.
The rare moments when Tengo would stare off into space, first contemplating how his novel should progress, he would always end up thinking the same thoughts and asking the same questions. Will this baby look like me? Or if it doesn't will we know who the father is? Will it look like Leader? Only Aomame would know this because she was the only one who met him. And even then she says she barely saw his face. Am I going to be a good father? Am I ready for this? To take care of a baby as well as Aomame.
Currently they were living off of the money Aomame had earned in 1Q84 doing her "work." She never talked about it and when Tengo did ask questions, she would only give minimal answers. He worried often when the money would run out, but Aomame seemed confident that if they don't live beyond their means they would be alright until Tengo finished his book. Though once he did, he didn't know what he would do with it. Did Komatsu exist in this world? Would any publishing company accept his book? As far as the two of them knew Fuka-Eri and her book Air Chrysalis did not exist in this world. Tengo's work was loosely based around the same concept, so would it take like her book had in 1Q84? Whether he could earn any money off of it, he knew that he needed to write this novel. He could not put to waste the flow that was pouring out of him. Words flew on to the page as he furiously pushed away at the typewriter. He was close to the end. He could feel it. Aomame was close to the end of her pregnancy too. They were both coming to a turning point in their lives; the complete creation of their own offspring.
The rare moments when Tengo would stare off into space, first contemplating how his novel should progress, he would always end up thinking the same thoughts and asking the same questions. Will this baby look like me? Or if it doesn't will we know who the father is? Will it look like Leader? Only Aomame would know this because she was the only one who met him. And even then she says she barely saw his face. Am I going to be a good father? Am I ready for this? To take care of a baby as well as Aomame.
Currently they were living off of the money Aomame had earned in 1Q84 doing her "work." She never talked about it and when Tengo did ask questions, she would only give minimal answers. He worried often when the money would run out, but Aomame seemed confident that if they don't live beyond their means they would be alright until Tengo finished his book. Though once he did, he didn't know what he would do with it. Did Komatsu exist in this world? Would any publishing company accept his book? As far as the two of them knew Fuka-Eri and her book Air Chrysalis did not exist in this world. Tengo's work was loosely based around the same concept, so would it take like her book had in 1Q84? Whether he could earn any money off of it, he knew that he needed to write this novel. He could not put to waste the flow that was pouring out of him. Words flew on to the page as he furiously pushed away at the typewriter. He was close to the end. He could feel it. Aomame was close to the end of her pregnancy too. They were both coming to a turning point in their lives; the complete creation of their own offspring.
