#help i just wrote a japanlila and i am crying
[spoiler``Untitled.:3pb4dr5m][i]One.
Two.
Three.[/i]
She sat quietly on the bench, a stack of papers next to her left and a jar to her right. Recently she had heard that making a thousand paper cranes would grant her a single wish. It could be anything - plus, she had hopes and dreams…
The jar was barely full. The paper cranes weren’t perfect - some looked almost distorted, but it counted. Every paper crane counts.
[i]Seventeen.
Eighteen.
Nineteen.[/i]
She met him just today.
She was just making more paper cranes, minding her own business, until he walked by, looking at her.
“What are you doing…?†he asked quietly.
“Making paper cranes,†she replied, staring intently at her lap, where her hands were busily folding paper.
“You’re making a wish?â€
She nodded.
It was silent for a moment, until he decided to sit down next to the jar, watching her. “I’ll talk to you, then. So you won’t be lonely.â€
She let out a small smile, then continued to make more.
“…My name’s Lila, by the way.â€
He smiled. “Kiku.â€
[i]Ninety-eight.
Ninety-nine.
One hundred.[/i]
“Kiku!†she suddenly cried, grinning happily. “I made the hundredth crane!~â€
He jumped a bit at the loudness of her voice, then smiled, watching her laugh in joy. …She gets so happy by such simple things… he thought, looking at her. It’s like she never knew of the hardships of life.
She tried to calm down, but the excitement was making her too happy. After a while, she finally did, then continued to make paper cranes.
“…Kiku, you know what I would wish for when I make a thousand paper cranes?†she asked.
“What is it?â€
“For me to visit all the countries.â€
[i]Four hundred thirty-one.
Four hundred thirty-two.
Four hundred thirty-three.[/i]
He had recently got infected by a sickness.
She didn’t notice yet - it was best to keep it hidden, anyways. Then she would completely stop making paper cranes and instead help him through the sickness as best as she can.
He didn’t want to be the reason she couldn’t fulfill her dreams. He just didn’t.
So he stayed silent.
Everything was going to be okay.
[i]Seven hundred one.
Seven hundred two.
Seven hundred three.[/i]
She was starting to get more worried.
She knew about his sickness even though he never told her. And his condition was getting worse.
Sometimes he would grimace in pain whenever he thought she wasn’t looking. Sometimes he would cough for a long time. And most of the time, his hands shaked slightly.
It scared her.
A long time ago, ever since she figured out that he had a sickness, her wish had changed. It was no longer for her to go to all the countries.
It was for—
She heard a slight thud to see him collapsed on the ground.
[i]Nine hundred ninety-eight.
Nine hundred ninety-nine.
One thousand.[/i]
“Kiku…â€
She gently nudged his hand, smiling as her eyes watered slightly, watching as he slowly opened his eyes.
“I made the one thousandth crane,†she said, holding up the red paper crane.
He smiled weakly, holding her other hand. “Maybe the gods will… grant your wish,†he said.
She felt like crying. Gently, she let go of his hand, cupping the paper crane between her hands, then whispered a wish.
“Please let Kiku get better.â€
He didn’t hear her, but she hoped the gods will.
— — —
She had stayed by his side the whole time.
Everything was quiet, save for the beeping of the machine in the room, signalling that he was still alive.
“…We’ll hang them in the living room,†he said suddenly, staring at the ceiling. His eyes glistened.
“What…?â€
“Your cranes. We’ll hang them in the living room, so that our grandchildren can see them…â€
She let out a sob, taking a hold of his hand, pressing it to her face. “Th… They would ask us about the story of the cranes,†she said, her voice shaking. “We would tell them… our story…â€
He nodded, smiling as he squeezed her hand. “Yes…â€
She smiled back. He was alive. At least he was still alive.
Whether the gods heard her or not, she didn’t know.
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