"The Seventh Man" by Haruki Murakami tells the story of two boys. After a typhoon, and then a tsunami, hit a town, the two boys decide to go to the shore to explore the wreckage. While they're standing near the water, a huge wave engulfs the kid's friend, "K," while a second wave pulls the boy towards the water.
It takes the boy a whole year to heal from his injuries, but the friend dies. As the story goes on, it is revealed that the guilt of his friend dying has stopped the boy, now the "Seventh Man" from achieving happiness and intimacy with anyone.
The water is meant to symbolize chaos and confusion at the beginning. It is a metaphor of life, and the unexpected tragedies that life can bring to us. However, as the story progresses, the character is unable to overcome the tragedy and the guilt that comes with it. As he returns to his town and looks at the water again, the water becomes a reminder of the things he has lost, but also helps him realize that he has given his whole life up because of fear. The water then becomes a trigger for his epiphany, which is that the saddest thing for a human is to end up alone, alienated from others and in fear.
