One of the most poignant stories that I’ve read recently was the short story, On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning by the great Japanese author Haruki Murakami.

1500 words (approx.) have never moved me so much. The story about lost love and lost oppurtunity is so sad yet so beautiful. I was suprised how much On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning really drew me in. Murakami paints beautiful scenes with words as detailed characterizations and descriptions bring the story to life. The first 2 graphs:

One beautiful April morning, on a narrow side street in Tokyo’s fashionable Harujuku neighborhood, I walked past the 100% perfect girl.

Tell you the truth, she’s not that good-looking. She doesn’t stand out in any way. Her clothes are nothing special. The back of her hair is still bent out of shape from sleep. She isn’t young, either – must be near thirty, not even close to a “girl,” properly speaking. But still, I know from fifty yards away: She’s the 100% perfect girl for me. The moment I see her, there’s a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert.

Someone was nice enough to put it online. Read the entire short story…