The Town Without Me (Hinazuki Kayo)

When I get bigger, big enough to go somewhere by myself, I want to go to a land that’s far away. I want to go to a faraway land. I want to go to an island that has no people. I want to go to an island that has no pain or sadness.There are no adults, children, classmates, teachers, or my mom on that island. On that island, I can climb a tree when I want to climb a tree, swim in the sea when I want to swim in the sea, and sleep when I want to sleep. On the island, I think about the town I left behind. Kids go to school, as if nothing has changed. Adults go to the office, as if nothing has changed. Mom eats, as if nothing has changed.
When I think about the town without me, I feel a sense of relief. I want to go far, far away.