500 days. A year and 135 days. Every day before Hanna would go to bed, we would sit and each make a crane. No matter how tired he was, he would insist. His thin fingers would gracefully corner each fold, while mine copied with a tad less precision.

Tonight was the last night. I made his favorite supper; cheeseburgers topped with jalepenos. Afterwards, he led me into the small living room, where two pieces of paper sat innocently on the fold-up card table. He pulled me down to sit next to him, our shoulders brushing comfortably. I could feel the warmth of his skin, and his steadily rising pulse.

"I'll go first!" He announced happily, picking up his paper and carefully, tenderly crafting the 999th paper crane.

"Now it's your turn, Aristotle..." His teeth worried his lower lip softly, and his blue eyes found my glowing amber. "Just one more..." He whispered softly.

The apartment was dim, the only light coming from the very last rays of the sun. It cast his skin in a pink glow, and set his red hair aflame.

I picked up the paper and slowly started folding. My fingers stumbled a bit, and I was surprised to feel his hands gently cup mine and start leading my digits through the motions.

He hesitated before the final fold, his cheek resting against my shoulder. I could feel the slight shudders, and hear his uneven breath. I looked down at him and was worried to find his eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Hanna..." He looked up and gave a weak smile.

"I-I'm okay, Erik... But I'm gonna miss you when you remember... And you leave..." He closed his eyes, and the tears rolled down.

I discarded the crane and held both his trembling hands in one of mine. I used my free arm to wrap around him and pull him into a warm embrace.

He buried his face in my chest and I could feel his frame quake with quiet sobs.

"Hanna..." My hand rubbed gentle circles into the thin back, feeling him relax slowly.

"I'm sorry... P-please... Finish it..."

His eyes followed my hand as I reached out, and made the final crease. He looked up into my eyes, waiting for some kind of recognition to spark in them.

I made my wish, looking into his deep blue pools, full of hesitance and echoes of abandonment.

He waited silently, his teeth worrying harder at his swollen lips.

"...Goethe...? Did it work...?"

"I think it did, Hanna."

His face was almost disappointed, but he kept a brave mask. "So... What's your name?"

"I haven't the faintest idea."

His brows pushed together almost comically, his mouth hanging slightly open. "W-wha-"

I leaned in and gently caught his soft lips with mine. A feeling like butterflies rested in my stomach as his eyes closed and he kissed back gently. His hands left mine to gently move around my neck, and I pulled him even closer.

I broke away to gently rest my forehead on his.

"I wished... To stay with you, Hanna. Forever."

I would have paid anything to see that smile every day. That one that took up half his face, and was always accompanied by a delighted little "Gnee!". The fact that all I had to give up was a forgotten, unnecessary past was just a bonus.