Not so far away and not too close, there stood a frail girl on a hospital bed. Unable to feel, unable to move, she was bedridden and paralyzed from her bottom down. She slept on her bed wide awake and simply gaze into the hospital’s ceiling. It was not regret she felt, but fear. Fear of what’s to come. It was not being lonely that scares her but becoming alone.

“Bum bum.” It was the sound of the door being knocked on.

“You may come in.” The frail girl had spoken.

“A gift for you.” The nurse had said with a gentle smile. It was obvious that it was not a gift from her, but a gift from another. The gift was wrap in a red wrapping with a sender’s name. It had read “From: Lynn” and “To: My Dearest Sister.” Along with the package, the nurse had carried in a plushie in about the size of a head. The plushie resembled an lucky cat. The cat was rather fat than most cat. Surely, if this cat would make an appearance anywhere, it would be the main protagonist’s pet, and in secret, it would be his guardian.

The gift box she had received was unknown. She had wanted to open it in private. There was however a card tied onto its wrappings. It was most likely a birthday card. When she had opened it, it had a photo of his only family member left, his brother Lynn. He was waving a peace sign next to a cake that had read, “Happy birthday Alice.” Along with the picture, there were few words that had been handwritten. It had read,

“Happy birthday Alice! By the time you have read this, on your request, I’ll be on my first day of school. I hope you are doing well. Whenever I get the chance, I’ll be sure to drop by and visit you. Be sure to open my present! I think you’re going to like it, it took a lot of time to make. Sincerely, your only brother.”

By the time she had finished reading the letter, the nurse had set the plushie on her bed in arms reach and had left the room. Before the nurse had left the room, she had given a gentle bow before leaving.

The gift box Alice had received was rather large, it was enough to fit a hundred of the plushie she had received. The gift box was slightly heavy and seemed to contain something fragile. It was obvious when it was placed gently next to her bed. Unwrapping the gift as gently as she could, a glimpse of the gift came to view. It was not long before tears had started to slip from her eyes. Even if she was emotionally stable, it was impossible to cease her tears from coming out. The gift to make a wish was more than enough, but this was more than just a wish. It was a wish upon a wish. It was more than anyone could ask. It was asking for too much. It was asking to fix the world’s problem. It was a symbol of eternal good luck and happiness. Instead of just one wish, it also prayed for recovery on my long illness. To live a thousand years like one of the holy creatures, the crane. Inside the gift box, it had contained two shadow box filled with five hundred paper-folded cranes in each. In total, it was a thousand crane. It was to wish for recovery on my unrecoverable illness. Even if she had not made it herself, her brother had made it for her. Surely, both her and Lynn were together as one.

“Happy birthday Lynn…” Alice had whisper quietly as the trail of tears slips off her face. It was not sadness she had felt. It was not grief she had felt, but it was happiness and joy.