"I'm sorry for being alive". Clarith was. Simply because of her white hair, she was mocked and made fun of by everyone in the village. The forest was the only place she could find peace. She walked up to an old tree and knelt down. Closing her eyes, she wished for something simple.

"I wish for friends."

The sound of her voice made me feel upset, because she hated herself so much. I wish I could help her, tell her it's not her fault but I couldn't. For I was just a ghost, something that should have gone away a long time ago.

Then, a woman manifested in front of me.

"Sorceress?" I cried. Very few people got to see her in their lives.

Her face kept on changing, so I could never tell her hair color or her face shape. All I could tell is she had blue eyes.

"Michaela Hatsu, I will fufill you wish of being human for one thousand years, if you live that long. But I must warn you, destruction comes your way."

The pain came first.

Then the waking.

I woke up in a forest, groggy and stiff, standing up on weak legs, holding onto a tree for support.

Why was I here? Where was I? Who was I?

I didn't know any of the answers, but I did know that I had a lot of work in store.

Eventually I got bored of standing and began to explore the forest, bit by bit.

Then I saw her.

She was kneeling, crying. I didn't understand why though.

"Why are you crying?" She turned her tearstained face to me, and I saw how beautiful she was.

The tears ran down her face, but I still didn't understand why. So I decided to try something else out.

"Hi. I'm Michaela." The name just came to me, but I knew it was mine.

"Clarith." Clarith frowned. "Isn't 'Clarith' ugly? Everyone always says so."

"Well," I smiled brightly at her. "I don't think it is!"

Clarith and I talked all day long by an old, tall tree. She told me her dream of becoming a doctor, and well.. everything about herself.

In turn, I told her everything I knew about myself, which was nothing.

Even though I just met her, despite all of our differences, I felt.. something for her, and she felt it too, I could tell by her facial expressions. I wanted to tell the whole world ' I LIKE CLARITH AND SHE LIKES ME!' We understood each other so well, I knew we were meant to meet.

I felt the urge to protect her, so that we could be together. This town felt unfamiliar, which scared me, but with Clarith I knew I would be all right.

Everyday with Clarith was like a new day, so joyful and bright! Even though the townspeople laughed at her and mocked us when we came to town, I didn't care. As long as I could see her smile, everything, I thought, would be okay.

Until the letter came. "Michaela, Michaela, there's a ball tonight! Let's go! " I knew just by looking at her eyes how badly she wanted to attend.

" If you can find us dresses, I would love to." We wouldn't be able to go, and that was fine by me.

"I'll make some right now!"

We made a picture, walking through the words in our fancy ballgowns.

"Clarith, you look beautiful." She did. The silver dress she made highlighted her beautiful hair.

"Ah, but you look best." I twirled for a second, admiring how the dark blue gown spun.

Despite my unwillingness to go, Clarith begged me to- and I'm not too sure I regretted being there.

"No, but really. We have to be careful at the ball. They don't like the idea of women loving other women." Clarith frowned. "We can't be together for the ball."

I was about to run back home when we were at the palace.

He kept on staring at me. The king from across the sea. King Kaito. He stood up from his chair and made his way to me. I hoped he wouldn't dance with me, in my eyes he looked disgusting. Evidently not to others.

A crowd of women stopped him, admiring his country. Quickly moving, I hid inside the other mass of ballgowns and tuxedos.

"Teal-haired woman with the blue gown, please halt!" Kaito called out and my heart dropped like a stone imagining Clarith faking a smile, but really feeling betrayed.

The crowd parted for Kaito, and in a matter of seconds he was right next to me.

"Beautiful woman, what's your name?" He grinned

"Michaela Hatsu." I turned to leave, but he yelled "Stay with me!" How could I deny him?

It was a long night to be certain, but the king loved me.

Clarith came back from her usual morning chores looking worried.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

In response, she took me outside and pointed to a tree. "Look what's on it."

At first glance, it looked like a piece of paper, but upon further notice, it had my face on it and said that the king wanted me.

"Don't leave me! You might never come back!" she cried.

I laughed. "I'll be fine, but I have to go to him." In reality, I was nervous. What did he want me, a peasant girl for?

The trip to the palace he was staying at only took a couple minutes, but by the time I arrived I was a nervous wreck.

When I rung the doorbell, he came down personally to meet me.

"Michaela! Come, let's have some tea." He led me outside to a beautiful garden with tables and chairs.

The King wanted to waste time with small talk, but I cut to the chase.

"King Kaito.. if you don't mind my forwardness... why did you invite me here?"

His face grew solemn. "Because, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you ever since I met you, nearly a week ago. I want you to marry me."

For a second, I stopped breathing.

"If you marry me, I'll give you 500,00 coins a year." Kaito said.

The sheer amount of money that was worth was enough to make anyone say yes, but I wanted Clarith.

"I even rejected Princess Kagamines proposal out of love for you!" He added. Wow. To reject her he must love me, for she was a force of her own.

"Can I give the money to someone else?" Clarith. Maybe she could have a better life.

"Of course!" The King smiled.

"I will marry you, King Kaito." I looked anywhere else but him when I spoke. It was all for Clarith.

His voice was soft. "I have a present for you." Kaito grabbed my right hand and slipped something cold on my finger.

A ring. A reminder of what I did for her.

Clarith was saddened when I told her what happened, but I twisted it to sound like Kaito forced me to marry him. As a husband- to be, he wasn't so bad. He was kind and such, but I just wasn't attracted to him. Also, when news came out that I was the King's fiancee, Princess Kagamine was deeply upset, and so was the rest of the country. He rejected the princess for a lowly commoner!

Clarith and I could hardly meet, and that is when I learned what true love really felt like. Everything I felt when I met her for the first time. The announcement of me and Kaito's wedding was official. I could no longer go and change it, but I wish I could.

So me and Clarith decided to have a binding ceremony. To prove that we were each other's for eternity. We met in the woods, and exchanged vows.

Clarith said to me "Even if everyone in the world mocks and laughs at me, as long as you are by my side, then I will be happy."

In turn, I said "Even if everyone in the world mocks and laughs at you, I will protect you so you can always laugh."

Before I left, Clarith hugged me and murmured in my ear " Let's meet in the forest next week, I'll wait for you." She broke the embrace and smiled. "I heard about the country's uprising against you. Be safe walking back!"

I almost didn't leave her, but I knew I had to. It was late at night, but I wasn't scared about walking to the palace. I saw a boy with blonde hair walking the opposite direction from each other. As we passed each other, we exchanged greetings.

"G'night, Miss." he said.

"Goodnight." I gave him a small smile and continued walking.

I couldn't help noticing how beautiful the night was as I walked by a town landmark ; the old well.

"AHH!"

I tripped over something, landing on my back. Then, I saw the golden-haired boy's face looming over me and a knife went in my heart.

The pain overcame me,so I didn't struggle when he picked me up and threw me down the deep, dark well.

In my fleeting moments of life, I thought of her. Clarith's clean white hair and her clumsy smile. But I was scared for her, that she wouldn't live after my death- I wanted her to have a happy life.

I took a ragged breath and spoke to the darkness "If we could meet again, there's something I want to tell you. If I could be reborn..."

I knew this was my last breath.

"If I could be reborn..."