Before the Coffee Gets Cold,4: Before We Say Goodbye

In the fourth installment of the *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* series, Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s poignant book *Before We Say Goodbye*—translated from the Japanese—addresses an age-old question: What would you do if you could travel to the past? More importantly, whom would you want to meet one last time? Patrons of the magical Funiculi Funicula café are familiar with its famous legend and the opportunity it offers for time travel. Many customers have reunited with loved ones there, resolved old conflicts, and visited those dear to them; yet, the journey is not without risk, and there are rules that must be followed: travelers to the past must have visited the café before, and—crucially—they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold.