Oliver has things to live for, yes he does. He lives for the small bubbling pride as he sees other smiling due to something he said, or what he's done. Even the smallest smile makes his 12 year old heart soar. So he dedicates himself to others, throwing himself into the smallest project. All for another. Simply tragic, though, he soon lost ability to live for himself. He is alone. He is sad. Every friend Oliver got, Oliver left with another, happier group. So many knew this child, bandaged and bright, cracking jokes and dancing through life. No one knew Oliver.

Oliver had a decent home life. Beautiful mother, dutiful father, older brother, younger sister. They were all so happy. He let them be. After all, they wouldn't mind one less. No one would play with a broken toy, especially when other special unique ones appeared. He smiles.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

Oliver halted from folding his final crane. Looking around him mutely, he faces the new comer.

A new 'friend'? He certainly didn't mind, after all, his life is others to use. Clearing his unused voice, he replies.

"Folding."

Clearly amused, the voice of a young girl laughed.

"I know that, silly! But why here?"

She motions to the lonely hill behind the school filled with beer bottles and ashes. He forgot, he was avoiding people, wasn't he? Blinking, he turned to the girl.

"I could ask the same."

"I see you everyday! Yet you know what I noticed? You've never smiled once! Even with all those jokes and friends of yours!" Trailing off, the girl seems to find another train of thought. Continuing, she asks, "Are you happy?"

Staring, clearly fazed, he thinks to himself. Was he happy?

"Yes, yes I am." He smiles, the truest smile he could possibly fake, and leaves.

She stares, shaking her head.

-

He wasn't happy. He's known it for a while. Oliver holds out money to some random student. His allowance. He smiles.

It is half a year when he sees the girl again. He learns her name. Kaai Yuki. He mentally jotts it down. After all, she's just another human. And all humans deserve happiness. Entering his bedroom, he finds a forest of cranes hanging on his room. He whispers, to these thousand cranes.

"I want to disappear."

He falls asleep.

He is finally thirteen. A freshman at high school. He hopes for a friend, who would want the same happiness he'd wish for them. It didn't happen. In fact, it didn't take long for him to find another dark, glass filled place to dream and wish. He wishes to not have any.

He is fourteen. No one notices him. That is good, he likes that. No one will remember him if he's gone. He cries, for the first time. He makes up his mind.

"I am nothing."

"You are something," A young girl responds, " You care more than anyone I know. You matter."

But poor Kaai Yuki was too late. No one remembers poor Oliver but herself.

-

Oliver did not die. He wouldn't. He promised his life to others. Instead, he ran away. Away from his problems, away from his life.

After all, what is a hated life for a loved one?

The thousand cranes burn in the night sky.