Fate

“I watch the sinners

pity their inequity

for love is a sin”


As I watch the lovers who is being punished for loving too much

I pity them for I was also been punished for being selfish for my lover

“She died” as I mounted my horse to carry my lover to a sedan

I broke the laws to be able to meet my bride

But what awaited me is her cold body

on her face plastered her usual gentle smile

but only her smile, the peach blossom eyes that are filled once with love and life

is now gone....


I become mad at the thought that she’s dead ‘She is alive!’ I screamed, forcibly seized her body

I rush to our new home, I beg her to wake up that she is just being naughty but after a day she didn’t move even a bit. I was shocked and lied to myself that she was alive. I treated her like she is still alive but the stench from her rotting flesh cannot hide the truth and I broke down.


Suddenly I remembered my grandfather’s words...to beg the gods to take pity on me they would grant my wish... I didn’t waste a single minute and took my lover’s body to a hidden temple, it was rumored to be once a dwelling of gods. I kowtow to the gods, I bang my head to the floor until it bled to show sincerity. I did not know how many days it has been...my once black colored hair has turned white. The only gratifying thing that happened is the rotting flesh of my wife has stopped, the empty temple has preserved her flesh but....I’ve been longing for her to be alive again to accompany me... As time goes on the longing has become loneliness and my devotion to the gods has become disbelief until it turns to hatred.... I felt betrayed...All I want is my wife..why!


My eyes turned red in hatred and turn my gaze at the numerous statues in front...the heartache, false hope turned me into a madman and I drew my sword, I slash the statues in hatred and swear “YOU FALSE GODS, I SPENT MY LIFETIME HERE FOR MY WIFE BUT EVEN A LITTLE ACT OF KINDNESS YOU DIDN’T SPARE EVEN A LITTLE! FROM TODAY ON, I WILL BECOME AN ENEMY OF ALL OF YOU!” He turned around to carry my wife away but as he reached out for her, her flesh in a visible speed continued to rot until to her very bones and finally turned to dust.


Eyes wide at what had happened, He couldn’t prevent it. Stared blankly at his lover's ashes, the only thing left is the ring that he had given her... gods aren’t kind and took a harsh action after he cursed the gods. He couldn’t do anything, cried and spent his life in sadness. Before he could collect his wife's ashes, it was swept by the wind and himself had been trapped inside the temple...for how long he did not know...he served the very gods that he hated to be able to follow his wife for he was even made into an immortal monster as a punishment from the gods...

A thousand years have passed in my usual routine honoring the gods, I notice something strange... My always youthful hand has become wrinkly and my body has grown quite tired..it's been a thousand years since I felt exhausted.. I turn my gaze at the temple’s garden beyond that is the temple’s gate and out of habit I usually put my hand at the temple’s entrance where it would be stopped by an invisible barrier. As I put my hand on it, I was terrified that I was falling forward and had hurt my chin in the process...but as the pain lessened I realized..I had stepped outside. I was happy and suddenly there was a wind urging me to turn around and as I followed the gentle sweep of the wind, I noticed a fully grown sakura tree and for some reason tears started pooling in my eyes and I ran towards it and as I ran, I grew tired till I crashed. I crawled towards it my hand had long become wrinkly and my life force, slowly been siphoned away...but at my last struggle I finally touch the tree and the memories of my life together with my wife came crashing in my mind and I cried...for this tree has been the reward of the gods of my hard work this was her ashes as my final memory and final rest.


“My dear,

rest from burden

that you bear, from myself

Now we together, forever

till end.”