Fluorite is a beautiful mineral that catches the light of our star and radiates it back to the darkness of night. My stone was a memento from my father; glowing and enigmatic.
His death was too sudden. Before we realized it, the cancer attacked from all directions and took him.
All I wanted was to sit down with him and talk about his experiences, ask him about the secrets he carried with him. But before I could gather my will to do so, he was struck mute, then pulled into mystery.
Why did I have to wait? Why did I not put all my effort into living this precious time with him?
After his death, I walked with tears behind my eyes and bitterness under my heart.
In the heart of this cold, beautiful, blue stone, innumerable stars glittered and drifted. In a dream I wandered among them, searching.
When I woke up, unexpectedly I found myself in the house where he had been a child. It was full of smells and sounds and familiar but cryptic and mystical objects. His presence felt so strong that I thought his voice might come from the next room.
Though I am unsure why, I believed, deep inside myself, that I could meet my father there. Day after day, wandering around in the mystical scenery, I looked for him.
—Yukari Chikura
Editors’ Note: This touching project was selected as one of the LensCulture Emerging Talent Awards 2016. This year, “Fluorite Fantasia” also won the brand-new competition, Steidl Book Award Asia, so look for the published book in early 2017!
