Smile: Story of the Wolf Wife
Hana smiled. It was what her father had wanted, what her husband had loved, and what her children had needed. She smiled through pain, loss, love, happiness… it didn't matter what the emotion was, -she smiled.
For Hana smiling was starting to get harder and harder to do. Her smile was bright when Yuki would come home to visit. Her smile beamed when Ame would howl from the forest. She would even chipper up when a villager would wave at home alone though- her thoughts would consume her.
For years she had her children to keep her sane. Yuki and Ame would bounce, run, play- even chew on the furniture. Needless to say they would keep her and her mind busy.
They were gone now. Sure, the howling would be heard randomly- and Yuki would visit for Christmas and summer break. Those times would be small relief to her otherwise quiet life.
The forest conservation she was working for had to let go of a few workers to keep open. Unfortunately- she was one they had to let go.
She looked around her house. It was now too big for just her. Soon her daughter would be finished with high school- and her son had long been gone.
Hana sat in the middle of the floor. The clock ticked and ticked. Her smile fell.
"I-I can't live like this anymore. I can't." Her eyes blurred with tears. "My home is empty, my children are gone. My husband… my love. My family… all gone." She cried.
She felt she had lived all that she could. Sure she was still young-but her heart felt old. This uncontrollable loneliness had finally eaten its way into her life.
She got up and went over to the shelf with her husbands I.D. on it. She stared at it. "My love for you hurts so much right now. I don't regret it-but- it hurts so much… this life. I'm alone. When I met you- I never thought I'd be alone-ever." She sank to her knees.
"Sure- they say I could move on- no- I can't. I have never stopped loving you. I can still feel you. Your arms… your warmth. I can still smell you!" She threw the I.D. across the room.
"This isn't fair! I know… I know they love me… but it's their turn to live… to love…" She fell onto her side, bringing her knees to her chest. "Ame and Yuki are their own people now. They don't need me. I need you though- I need you…"
"Hana." She heard him.
"Ootami?" She opened her eyes.
"Hana." She heard him again.
"Don't do this." She squeezed her eyes shut.
There- he appeared- in the same field she had always seen him in.
"You've done well love- look at how well they've grown up.
"Stop-stop it now!" She let out an angry gasp running into his arms. "I can't keep doing this love. I hurt-my heart hurts!" She cries into his chest.
" You are wonderful love. You have made me so proud." He snuggles her.
"Please love, please make this pain go away." She looks up at him begging him.
"Is this what you really want?" He kisses her lips gently.
Her eyes shine with tears, "This is what I need. This is my turn to be selfish." She clutches onto him tighter.
"Hana. Smile for me." He holds her.
She smiles, and as soon as she does… everything feels light. He takes her hand, and they walk off together… the field goes dark.
Yuki found her mother about a week later. The doctor told her her mothers heart had just stopped beating- there was no explanation for it. Yuki knew different though- she knew her mothers heart was finally where it should be. Back with her fathers heart.
Yuki rubbed her stomach, her two wolf cubs stretching inside.
"Grandma and Grandpa finally have their happy ending. Now lets go live a good life they can watch over and be proud of." She smiled.