Folding Paper

Tiffany took a large sheet of paper and placed it on the table in front of her. Slowly, she would make one fold after another, creasing it decisively with each bend. Her thumb would run over the paper countless times, so much so that she thought she had rubbed her finger raw. It was a hobby of her that persisted over the years. Tiffany loved origami. She found a calming joy in it ever since she read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes as a young child. The thought of the possibility of having a wish granted by folding paper cranes intrigued Tiffany enough to attempt the task with her grandmother years ago. They never finished but came close. They were a little over two hundred short. Tiffany had kept the cranes in a shoe box that placed protectively in the top right corner of her closet shelf. It was a precious memory but also a painful one as her grandmother had passed away before they could finish. Tiffany left it that way, thinking it wasn’t fair to finish without her.

However, Tiffany continued the hobby. Even as she aged with time, she always found herself folding something new everyday. Her friends used to tease her, saying she was too old to be doing that type of thing. The comments never daunted Tiffany as her fingers continued to diligently work over the paper before finishing the paper rose and placing it in a waterless vase with the other eleven fabricated flowers. Tiffany’s eyes trailed at her work for a moment with a gaze of content before heading to the sink to run some water through her hands. As Tiffany rubbed her hands with soap, she felt the sting of the paper-thin cuts that grazed her fingertips, each one served as a reminder of the countless projects that she undertook. She cringed at the slight pain but smiled as she felt the evidence of her craft.

✝

Jessica hated the mundane routine of life. She thought of how she could possibly bring some excitement to her life and break out of the cycle that she’s doomed to live in. Her eyes would peer out the window of the bus she rode, sudden jolts would break her thoughts but her eyes would be continually fixed on the other side of the window. The buildings all seemed the same to her. They were the same buildings she was accustomed to seeing for the past six years. Every morning, she would ride the exact same bus that would travel down the same path without the scenery ever changing. Jessica sighed and wondered if she could ever leave her office job. She was a secretary for six years. There were no promotions or raises and the idea of them were never remotely cast in her direction. It was a tiresome and cumbersome job that she wanted to leave for a quite some time in order to do something that she would enjoy but never found the courage to do so. Leaving would mean having to find a new job and the possibility of whether that job could possibly be worse than her current one frightened Jessica.

She was stuck on the bus that though always moving, never really moves. No matter how long and far she rode the bus, it would always arrive at the same place and it would repeat its route. Every minute and mile that drew her closer to work was excruciatingly long. The dread would overtake her and she would wonder what the future had left in store for her and whether she was condemned to this lifestyle for the remainder of her life. She felt some relief as Jessica’s eyes caught a flock of birds that flew overhead. Birds were always a calming sight for her as she watched them soar uninhibited in the incomprehensible vast firmament. She was envious of them. Jessica wished the she could fly like the birds. Fly away to a place where she could start life anew and where nothing held her down.

As the birds faded from sight, Jessica’s eyes readjusted themselves to the cemented reality. Heaving out a sigh, Jessica allowed her eyelids to shut close, tired of sights in front of her. The chattering from the other passengers prevented sleep from seeping in as Jessica began to weep invisible tears. This wasn’t the life she wanted or expected. She wanted to go into photography. A chance just never presented itself to her or perhaps, she was just too afraid to grasp at it.

✝

Lunch break was something that Jessica always looked forward to as she frequently eyed the clock that was situated on her desk. The second hand couldn’t move fast enough. The drab, colorless walls that surrounded her were like a prison in her wake, void of bars but trapped just the same. As she finished collating the files that were handed to her in a large manilla folder—a job that she had always detested—Jessica took her purse and headed out. A cold breeze jolted a sharp intake of air in Jessica’s lungs to which she found refreshing. It was a stark contrast to the office where the blinds blocked out the sunlight and the outside view.

On the side of the street, Jessica caught sight of a sparrow that that cooed gently. It jumped onto the curb of the sidewalk before waddling left and right while occasionally bringing up its wings but never taking flight. It jumped a few times, left wing flapping ceaselessly but the right never truly extended. The bird continued to struggle, attempting to capture flight but never leaving more than a few centimeters off the ground. Jessica eyed the bird with pity. The sparrow continued to flap mercilessly, now wildly beating its one good wing rapidly. Jessica scoffed a bit at the bird, at its stupidity for trying to attempt the impossible. Flight isn’t possible with a broken wing. Slipping off her jacket, Jessica approached the bird carefully with light footsteps, cautious not to scare it and send it into a frenzy. Slowly, she used the jacket and wrapped it around the bird, lifting it carefully off the ground and into her arms. To Jessica’s surprise, the bird didn’t struggle. Instead, it sat comfortably in the nest it was swept onto.

Jessica found her way to a cafe, deciding to take the bird to a veterinarian after her shift was over. For now, Jessica simply cradled the sparrow with loving care. Ordering some lunch, Jessica situated herself at an empty table, feeding the bird some bread crumbs from the slice of bread she requested. The bird delightfully pecked away at the food voraciously, as if it hasn’t eaten for a while. Jessica paid careful attention to her newfound friend, her eyes never leaving it for more than a few seconds in fear that it would get hurt again. Thinking of a name to give the bird, Jessica munched on her sandwich before deciding on and settling on the name Ariel. Jessica smiled at the thought when she was reminded of The Little Mermaid. Jessica hoped that the bird would have the same happy ending that Ariel did and not the ending that was written by Hans Christian Anderson.

“Is that your bird?”

The voice broke Jessica’s thoughts and was brought back to the soft ambiance of the cafe. Jessica looked around and found the owner of the voice who took a seat in front of her before replying to the girl, “Umm…” Jessica began hesitantly, “It’s not really mine. I just found it on the street. Seems like it hurt its wing.”

“Aw, that’s terrible,” the girl would voice in return, her lips turned downward to show some pity. “Does it have a name?”

Jessica smiled, “Ariel.”

“Like the mermaid?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s a good name.” Tiffany stared at the bird for a moment before shifting her eyes back to Jessica. “I’m Tiffany by the way.”

Tiffany extended her hand and Jessica took it. “Jessica.”

“You’re quite fond of her already, aren’t you?” Tiffany asked abruptly.

“Huh?”

“Ariel.”

Jessica peered at the bird again who was now gently ruffling her feather with her beak. “I guess I am,” Jessica laughed. “I always loved birds. Second to photography.”

“Ah. You’re a photographer?”

Jessica’s smile faded. “No,” Jessica began solemnly, her voice lowering a few decibels. “I work at the law firm nearby. I wish I was a photographer. It was always my dream when I was younger. Photography is just a hobby these days.”

“I see. You should still pursue your dreams. You can make it big one day,” Tiffany spoke whimsically while playing with her receipt.

“I doubt it. I can’t forfeit my job security for a career where you’re always questioning where your next paycheck is coming from. The world just doesn’t work that way. Reality is where you’re stuck in a job that you hate for eight hours a day, praying that every second could come a bit quicker just so you can get out and reality is using your vacation hours whenever you have a chance just so you can get away.”

Jessica caught the eyes of Tiffany who stared at her intently. Flustered, Jessica quickly apologized for her outburst and continued to eat her sandwich while keeping her eyes downcast, embarrassed to meet Tiffany’s.

“Sounds like you’re not that happy with your job,” Tiffany remarked as her fingers continued to fondle her receipt, folding creases into it from time to time.

“Enough about that,” Jessica wanted to conclude that subject. “What about you? You can’t possibly admit that you’re perfectly content with your job.”

“I am, actually.”

“Oh really? What do you do?” Jessica couldn’t help but be skeptical.

“I’m a veterinarian and I enjoy my work very much,” Tiffany smiled. “I can take a look at Ariel if you want to stop by later. Here’s my card.”

Jessica took a glance at the card that was handed to her. “I don’t get off work until after a few hours though.”

“That’s fine,” Tiffany stood up from her seat. “I’ll see you in a few then.”

With those words, Tiffany took her leave, leaving Jessica with Ariel again. Jessica cradled Ariel in her arms again and stood up before something on the table caught her eye. Jessica took the origami bird and smiled as she realized that Tiffany had made it. Her fingers deftly went over every detail. Jessica marveled at the intricacy before juxtaposing it next to Ariel. “Looks like you, doesn’t it?” Jessica whispered to the bird and received a soft coo in response.

✝

Jessica stood outside the building before pulling out a card and double-checking the address. It seemed right, however, Jessica couldn’t help but question the dubious pink sign that read “Veterinarian.” It seemed completely unprofessional but cute in a sense. Carrying Ariel into the small building, Jessica was greeted by Tiffany who sat leisurely behind a counter, spinning in her chair. When Tiffany caught sight of Jessica, the spinning immediately stopped and Tiffany jumped off her seat, straightening her white doctor’s coat in the process. Slightly embarrassed by the situation, Tiffany speaks up first, “Jessica! I wasn’t—I mean, I—”

Jessica giggled. It had been a while since she did so. Her job drained her physically and emotionally that she lost most of her ability to laugh. Surprised by her own action, Jessica coughed to clear her throat, “I dropped by like how you told me to,” Jessica would say while pointing out an injured Ariel that was still seated comfortably in the lump of a jacket.

“Ah! Yes,” Tiffany stepped forward, taking Ariel from Jessica for a moment. “It won’t take long. We just need to tape her wing so she won’t move it.”

Tiffany carefully examined the bird who was calm through the touches. Tiffany handed the bird something to drink and before Jessica could get a word in, “Antibiotics,” Tiffany would say, “Just to make sure it doesn’t have an infection and it’ll be healthy.”

Reassured, Jessica continued to watch as Tiffany strapped the bird’s wing with some tape and set Ariel down upon a table. The bird walked a few steps before wobbling and tipping over to its. Jessica immediately stood up and went over to aid the bird but was beat to it as Tiffany gently lifted her up. “It’s normal,” Tiffany would reassure Jessica. “Birds use their wings for balance it’s only natural that she’ll fall down but she’ll get used to it. It’ll heal in about one to two months. Check back with me if there are any problems.”

“Thanks, what do I owe you?”

“Nothing,” Tiffany briefly answered. “Take it as a gift. For Ariel, that is.” Tiffany smiled before settling herself back onto her chair, swiveling it slightly from left to right.

“Thanks and by the way,” Jessica began, pulling out a paper bird from her purse, “did you make this by any chance?”

“Yeah,” Tiffany smiled smugly, it was a smile filled more with pride in her work than with arrogance. “Photography is your hobby, that is mine.”

“It’s good.”

“Have you thought about it?” Tiffany quickly interjected.

“Thought about what?”

“Your job. Photography.”

“I told you already. It’s just a dream.”

“Okay,” Tiffany closed the subject calmly.

Jessica checked her wrist for the time even though she didn’t wear a watch. Hoping that Tiffany didn’t catch that, Jessica put her arm down, “I have to go but thank you for helping Ariel today. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

✝

Jessica settled down onto her desk, the workday just beginning. The soft hum of the computer filled her ears as she turned her desktop on. The illuminating light from the screen signaled another eight hours of torment. Reaching over for the folders she was to document, her hand brushed against a pointed object. Swerving her head, Jessica’s hand picked up a small pink paper crane. Jessica scoffed at the sight of it before her eyes caught a post-it note attached to it:

Have you ever read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes? It says that if you make a thousand of these cranes, you’re granted a wish. Make your dreams come true.

Jessica smiled sweetly at the gesture but thought the idea to be ludicrous. Jessica made a note to thank Tiffany later though she thought it’d be strange for her to drop by Tiffany’s office without any real reason. Jessica quickly shook the thought away and began to type away at her computer and for the first time in years, she began work with a smile upon her face.

✝

Tiffany swiveled in her chair and folded one crane after another, embedding small inks of writing upon the wings. For years, Tiffany had folded almost anything people could imagine but never cranes. She reserved cranes for her and her grandmother. However, Tiffany believed that Jessica needed its magical powers and maybe it will grant Jessica’s wish and allow her to be happy. Tiffany had never seen anyone so void of hope and future before. It was a sad sight to bear but after watching Jessica care so tenderly for a bird found on the streets, Tiffany could see a spark waiting to be ignited. One by one, cranes were being added into a new shoebox, a box designated for Jessica. Tiffany smiled and wondered if the girl saw the one that she delivered on her desk but frowned at the thought that Jessica wouldn’t know who it’s from. Tiffany sighed and told herself that it didn’t matter. Who the cranes were from didn’t matter. It was what the cranes symbolized that did. Tiffany hoped Jessica could understand the message.

The door creaked open and upon seeing Jessica’s face, Tiffany quickly hid the cranes that she made. She cursed at why Jessica always caught her in these moments but inhaled deeply and recomposed herself. “Hi, Jessica. How’s Ariel doing?”

Jessica closed the door behind her, eyeing Tiffany carefully as Jessica could’ve sworn Tiffany had quickly shoved something under the counter. “She’s doing fine, thank you,” Jessica smiled sweetly. “You left this for me, didn’t you?”

Jessica held up the small pink crane and made its wing flap several times, amused by the mechanism.

“Did you like it?” Tiffany smiled sheepishly, glad that Jessica could immediately tell it was her who gifted it.

“I did, thanks.” Jessica paused. “Do you think I could take you out to dinner some time? You know, as thanks for Ariel since you didn’t take my money. I mean, you don’t have—”

“I’d love to,” Tiffany hastily agreed after noticing Jessica was about to back herself out of the offer or say something embarrassing. “How about tonight around seven. Pick me up? Here’s my address and phone number.”

“Tonight sounds good and I’ll…” Jessica’s voice faded.

“What’s wrong?” Tiffany asked while her head tilted slightly to the right.

“I don’t have a car…” An embarrassed Jessica answered timidly.

Tiffany snickered before reassuring Jessica. “It’s okay, we can take the bus.”

Taking the bus that night felt different to Jessica than the many times she rode the bus before. Maybe it was because it was a different bus line and the route was different, but Jessica didn’t feel confined this time. She didn’t feel as if the bus wasn’t heading to any one particular direction or that the bus was heading in circles, going down the same path repeatedly. For the first time since she began working at the law firm, Jessica finally felt as if she were going somewhere. To somewhere new and exciting to where she could break the chains of bondage that kept her life from progressing, that kept her from being happy. Jessica looked forward to its destination.

✝

For the next several months, Tiffany found herself continuing to make paper cranes for Jessica. She would have one delivered to Jessica’s desk every morning and whenever they saw each other, Tiffany would casually slip one into Jessica’s purse for Jessica to find when she arrived home. Other times, Tiffany would have the crane delivered with the check whenever the two went out to eat. Jessica’s mood had lifted recently and Tiffany believed the cranes were working. Slowly, the number of cranes mounted.

Jessica reached in her pocket and pulled out a crane. Tiffany must’ve slipped it in during their date. Jessica smiled before reading the small note that was written on its wings: Thank you for the awesome date. I’ll see you soon.

Jessica smiled at the words and put the crane with the rest that Tiffany had given her. It was number nine hundred ninety-nine. Three more and Jessica would be granted a wish. Jessica walked over the bird cage and opened it. As she did, Ariel immediately hopped on the finger and cooed affectionately. Her wing had fully healed but was reluctant to leave Jessica’s side. It was a gesture that Jessica appreciated greatly as she would come home to a fluttering in the cage. She often leaves the cage unlocked so that Ariel could fly in and out whenever she wanted. At first, Jessica had imagined that Ariel would’ve flown away and continued the life that she had before she had met Jessica but Ariel never left. At times, Jessica would come home and Ariel wouldn’t be there, which left Jessica to believe that the bird finally went to live its natural lifestyle. However, in the middle of the night, Jessica would be awoken by chirping and found Ariel cuddled by her pillow. As much as Ariel had grown attached to Jessica, Jessica found herself attached to the bird.

“One more,” Jessica whispered to Ariel, “one more and I’ll get a wish. Maybe I’ll wish that I can fly. Then we can fly together and be free.”

Ariel kept quiet and shuffled a bit before settling itself down next to Jessica again. Jessica smiled. Who knew that a bird could behave like a cat or dog, curling next to their owner?

The next morning, Jessica anticipated going to work. She anticipated finding the crane that was to be situated on her desk from Tiffany with something written that would definitely brighten the rest of her day but when she arrived, there was no crane. Slightly disappointed, Jessica told herself that Tiffany would give it to her the next time they saw each other. However, during their lunch date that afternoon, Tiffany didn’t slip another crane into her pocket or purse or have one delivered with the check. Jessica couldn’t help but wonder why Tiffany wasn’t going to give her the last crane.

✝

“Tiffany?” Jessica asked while Tiffany was concentrated on the movie that blared on the small television set. When no response was given, Jessica took it as a cue to continue, “Why have you given me the last crane?”

Tiffany stopped munching on the popcorn and turned her head to Jessica. “What makes you think I haven’t given it to you?”

Jessica was confused and attempted to think of an answer, believing the question was more complicated than it seemed. When no special answer came to mind, Jessica simply replied, “Because I don’t have it.”

Tiffany giggled before propping herself upright on the couch. Slowly she rolled up her sleeve to show a paper crane drawn in on the underside of the forearm. “You know,” Tiffany began, her smile evident, “I was wondering when you’d ask. Do you know how much effort it took for me to draw a crane on my arm everyday?”

Jessica smiled sheepishly and was speechless at the act.

“So,” Tiffany began, “what’s your wish?”

“I don’t need one. I have everything I possibly need right here.”

Tiffany eyed Jessica in skepticism. “What about your job? And photography?”

“It doesn’t really matter when I have you. You’ve made my life happier.” Jessica stopped for a moment and grinned. “Well, maybe I have one wish.”

“What is it?”

“Marry me.”

Tiffany scoffed. “What? No ring? What kind of proposal is that?”

“Let’s go get one, right now.”

“Okay,” Tiffany agreed heartily. “Let’s take my car.”

Jessica backed herself up a bit. “Wait,” Jessica began, “you have a car? Then why have we been taking the bus this whole time?”

“Because,” Tiffany’s voice teased Jessica, “you seemed so flustered when you said you didn’t have a car and I didn’t want to strip you of all your pride.”

“No pride? I’m the one proposing, aren’t I?" Jessica retorted.

Tiffany gave Jessica a chaste kiss. “You are. That’s why I’m saying, ‘yes’ and we’re taking my car.”

Jessica smiled before grabbing the car keys while heading down to the garage, dragging Tiffany along with her other hand.

Fin