Eriko Ohara feeds her daughter at an evacuation center in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, on Saturday.
The White Day ring that her husband had planned to give her.
KESENNUMA, Miyagi--A White Day present she will never forget shines on Eriko Ohara's hand--a delicate ring that would prove to be her last gift from her husband Yoshinari.
Within minutes of the March 11 earthquake striking, Ohara, 33, attempted to flee by car to an evacuation center in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, with her two young daughters Rio, 2, and Ria, 5 months. She received a call from Yoshinari, also 33, a delivery company driver.
"Are you alright? The phone lines will go out soon," he said.
There was so much she wanted to say. But carrying two children crying with fear, Ohara was unable to express her feelings. The phone was soon disconnected. It was the couple's final conversation.
Although it meant she would head toward the sea, Ohara chose to evacuate to a sturdy primary school building. About 20 minutes passed, but the road was clogged with vehicles trying to escape and Ohara was unable to move. She decided to drive in the opposite direction, against the oncoming traffic. She quickly backed out of the driveway and pressed on the accelerator.
She soon saw the tsunami approaching and a car two vehicles ahead of hers was engulfed in a torrent of mud. Survival instincts kicked in. Trying to protect her daughters, Ohara drove astern for about 50 meters and managed to escape the wave.
She decided to head to an evacuation center further inland and spent the night in the car without heating to save gasoline.
Ohara arrived at the evacuation center the next day but without any belongings life was far from easy. Even when her children's clothes became dirty with urine and drool, she had nothing else for them to wear. They just had to wait for the clothes to dry naturally.
She was forced to share a baby bottle with other families at the center and the stress caused her to have trouble lactating. Ohara tried to dilute a sports drink and give it to Ria, but she rejected it and almost became dehydrated. Baby wipes also ran out and Ria began to bleed due to a chafing rash.
Sadly, Eriko received the news of her husband's death on Thursday. Her husband's boss told her that Yoshinari had almost certainly succumbed to the tsunami while delivering goods around the Kesennuma area.
On Friday, Ohara went to a temporary morgue in the city to identify his body after her children were asleep.
Seeing her husband's body, tears rolled down her cheeks. "I love you," Ohara murmured. She returned to their house--miraculously still standing--to collect some clothes to dress her husband. She looked through belongings she had collected from his company. Among these items she found the ring.
Yoshinari had apparently bought it as a surprise White Day present for March 14 in return for chocolates she had given him on St. Valentine's Day.
She remembered sometimes sniping at Yoshinari, "I wish you'd get me a ring or something, but sadly you're not the present-giving type."
Her life at the evacuation center continues and bringing up her children there has become increasingly difficult.
She does not know how much longer this situation will continue, but every time she looks at the ring, Ohara promises her husband she is taking full responsibility for bringing up their children.
(Mar. 21, 2011)
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