This story portrays the journey of a young woman working in the city as she confronts depression and rediscovers herself.
Through her struggles and growth, it conveys understanding of depression and hope for recovery.
The Story Begins
Amid the bustling noise of the city stands a sterile office building.
Kanna sat at a desk inside one of the offices, staring at her computer screen.
Although she was trying to concentrate on the numbers displayed on the monitor, her mind felt foggy, as though enveloped by a dense mist.
“Kanna, I need this document by tomorrow,” her boss said curtly, snapping her back to reality.
Looking up, she noticed his gaze seemed sterner than before.
“Yes…” she replied softly, feeling a weight settle in her stomach.
Since her transfer, she had struggled to adapt to her new duties, and every day felt like walking a tightrope.
“I have high expectations for you. You can do this,” her boss said before returning to his desk.
Those words—“You can do this”—used to be a magical phrase that boosted Kanna’s motivation.
But now, they pressed down on her shoulders like an unbearable weight.
“Haah…”
She let out a small sigh.
Outside the window, dusk had already begun to fall, blanketing the city in twilight.
The reflection of her face in the glass looked utterly exhausted.
“When did I stop smiling like I used to?” she murmured, almost unconsciously.
Her fingers found her phone, and she opened the gallery.
There, a photo from a past trip with friends appeared. She was laughing brightly, full of life.
“Back then, every day sparkled…”
The chasm between her past self and her present self felt impossibly wide.
Work pressures, loneliness, and anxiety about the future swirled within her, causing her to gradually lose sight of who she was.
On her way home from the office, Kanna stopped by her usual café near the station.
The aroma of coffee enveloped her as she took a seat by the window.
“Welcome,” said a warm voice from behind the counter.
Looking up, Kanna saw an older woman with a gentle smile that radiated kindness.
“One blended coffee, please,” Kanna ordered almost reflexively.
Sitting at the counter, she sipped her freshly brewed coffee. Its bitterness and aroma quietly soothed her weary heart.
“Coming back from work?” the woman behind the counter asked.
“Yeah… kind of,” Kanna replied, slightly startled.
It was rare for a stranger to strike up a conversation with her.
“You must be tired. Don’t push yourself too hard,” the woman said, as though seeing straight into Kanna’s heart.
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It is available on the “Buy me the coffee” website.
By providing support (starting from $1) or subscribing to a membership ($10/month) on the “Buy me the coffee” website, you can access the full article. Please check it out!
（ここから先は有料記事です。以下の「Buy me the coffee」のウェブサイトに公開しています。
「Buy me the coffee」のウェブサイトで、サポート（1ドル以上）かメンバーシップ（10ドル/月）を利用すれば、記事の全文を閲覧できます）
The Japanese version is available at the link below.
The images in the Japanese version differ from those in the free portion of this blog and the free portion of “Buy Me a Coffee.” Please check it out!
以下のリンク先では、日本語版を公開しています。
ここに公開しているブログ及び[buy me the coffee]の無料部分の画像とは別のものを掲載しています。是非ご覧ください。
(Note.)
This story is purely fictional and bears no relation to actual people or events.
Incidentally, the content was created using responses from several AI tools.
While AI-generated answers are not always accurate, we’ve done our best to cross-check with books and online sources. However, some inaccuracies may remain.
Please treat this article as a reference and consult professionals, particularly for medical matters.
Thank you for reading. I hope this piece brightens your day, even just a little.
