• Snow fell hard when I found her. That beautifully white creature. The most magnificent crane I'd ever seen. She was injured; struck by an arrow on the wing. Who could've done such a horrible thing? I took the arrow from her and did what I could to heal her wound. I hugged this helpless beauty in my arms. The snow around us was red from her blood and she cried to me; the most amazing yet torturous sound I'd ever heard.

    When she was well, she flew into the moon. I stood at my door with the wind blowing hard against me as I watched her leave. Her white body was graceful as she braved the cold of the night and I knew I'd forever love this creature even as she left me that evening to join the stars and moon in the sky.

    The days flew by without incident till another cold night. A beautiful lady came at my door, shivering from the cold. I took her in, fed and warmed her. I loved her from the start. Her skin was flawless white, her hair shining black. I wanted her till death. She loved me since then, even though I was poor. We were wed and we were happy.

    My poverty caught up with us and things looked bad. I wanted the best for us but couldn't do it. She smiled at me and told me she'd provide. She said she'd make a dress, a kimono so beautiful that it would pay for everything. I trusted her with this and she asked me just one thing. She asked that I never come into the room as she made the dress and I agreed.

    She stayed in the room; away from me. For hours she stayed making the dress, I could hear the sound of thread. I waited for her, not once did I look in the room and when she came out I gasped. The dress she held was awe inspiring. I sold the dress and what she said was true. The money I got was enough to pay for everything and more.

    A few days more and I asked for another dress. She smiled and said yes. Again she asked the same promise and again I agreed. She entered the room and I stood on the other side of the door, waiting. She took longer this time but the dress was more beautiful. We had more money for us.

    Time and time again, I asked for more dresses. We could be rich, we could have the life we deserved. Each time she entered the room, the stayed locked inside for longer. Each dress more magnificent than the last.

    How did I not notice her growing thin? How did I not notice her sadness? My greed blinded me and I lost sight of what was important. I wanted more; more for me, more for her, more for us. I wanted the best. I ignored what I saw, I ignored her. I wanted it all and forgot that she was my all.

    Then came a time when the hours turned into days then days turned into weeks. My impatience got the best of me as I listened to the whoosh of thread. I entered the room and there was the most beautiful crane, plucking her silky white feathers. The crane in my mind had come back. I could hold that fantastic creature in my arms again. Joy filled my body as I took a step forward.

    The crane looked at me, piercing me with those expressive eyes and I just knew that she was my beloved wife. Then I saw the pain in her eyes that I couldn't understand. And I remembered the promise I'd made her; the promise I'd broken.

    The feather fell from her beak, her wings unfolded and I rushed forward. She was going to leave me! I stumbled over myself before I could get to her. So she flew. Out into the gray sky. My whole life flew out my window, beyond my reach and I had only myself to blame. I watched for the second time as the beautiful crane took to the air, leaving me behind. With my head bent and regret forever embedded into my heart, I took the unfinished dress- the only thing my beloved had left me. Suddenly, everything didn't matter anymore. Not the money, not the best in the world. Nothing mattered but her, my crane wife.