Moonlight Shadow is another surreal story that explores how people heal from loss. It complements Kitchen very well in that regard, and its a snappy and enjoyable read that has some magical realism themes (unlike Kitchen) that may appeal more to some readers. Essentially, the narrator experienced an intense, young love relationship that ended in the death of her partner. She and her partner's brother (who simultaneously lost his girlfriend) are still healing, albeit in different ways. Her partner's brother wears his girlfriend's skirt everywhere, another nod at Yoshimoto's interest in gender fluidity and how identity is so strongly connected to what we have lost as well as what we have gained. But essentially, the narrator meets a mysterious woman who allows her to see her boyfriend one last time and wave goodbye to him. The story isn't packed with meaning, but it was touching. The narrator was given one last chance to see a deceased loved on, an opportunity nobody is normally afforded. It allows her to heal. I can imagine this resonating powerfully with a reader in grief. Seeing the narrator come out of her grief at the end of the story, and with her events ending with an acceptance that she must move on, stirred some emotions within me.