Lucy and Teiji’s Romance

The Earthquake Bird

This flow traces Lucy Fly’s idealized romance with Teiji, its strain under jealousy, and the disappearance that leaves the relationship unresolved.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Puddle Photograph The Puddle Photograph from "The Earthquake Bird". The Puddle Photograph A Stranger Observed Lucy Fly watches Teiji photograph a puddle in the rain and reads his intense attention as an invitation.

The Puddle Photograph from "The Earthquake Bird". The Puddle Photograph A Stranger Observed Lucy Fly watches Teiji photograph a puddle in the rain and reads his intense attention as an invitation.

The Puddle Photograph A Stranger Observed Lucy Fly watches Teiji photograph a puddle in the rain and reads his intense attention as an invitation. He photographs her too, making the camera their first shared space. A Private World They go to Teiji’s apartment and become lovers. Lucy remembers the encounter as wordless and fated, a beginning that suits her desire to believe she has been uniquely seen.

The Strange Remark The Strange Remark from "The Earthquake Bird". The Strange Remark A Story Shared After a date at a jazz club, Lucy tells Teiji about her first sexual encounter and the death of Brian Church.

The Strange Remark from "The Earthquake Bird". The Strange Remark A Story Shared After a date at a jazz club, Lucy tells Teiji about her first sexual encounter and the death of Brian Church.

The Strange Remark A Story Shared After a date at a jazz club, Lucy tells Teiji about her first sexual encounter and the death of Brian Church. She expects him to fall asleep as he had during earlier stories. Intimacy Falters Teiji stays awake and calls her strange the next morning. Lucy cannot tell whether the word is affectionate or fearful, and the uncertainty makes her anticipate losing him.

The Missing Photographer The Missing Photographer from "The Earthquake Bird". The Missing Photographer Departure North Teiji leaves Tokyo for Hokkaido after his involvement with Lily and the trip to Sado Island.

The Missing Photographer from "The Earthquake Bird". The Missing Photographer Departure North Teiji leaves Tokyo for Hokkaido after his involvement with Lily and the trip to Sado Island.

The Missing Photographer Departure North Teiji leaves Tokyo for Hokkaido after his involvement with Lily and the trip to Sado Island. Lucy receives no direct explanation from him and learns details through others. A Love Without Resolution Photographs sent to police suggest that Teiji was near Lily, but do not prove what he did. Lucy still imagines asking why he left, while knowing that he may never return to answer.

Their first night together in Shinjuku

The morning after their jazz-club date

After Lily Bridges’s murder and Lucy’s release