You’ve always wanted to be a mother. Not because of traditional gender roles, but because you’ve always wanted a family of your own. A child to fill your life with love and light.

So imagine your wrenching heartbreak when your first baby was a stillborn, leaving you depressed and lonely as you mourned the loss. All the baby supplies and furniture left to remain in the storage room. No baby to nurse, no child to nurture.

But you got better over time, moving on with your life as you gained a new job with high-pay, and overcoming your grief.

One day you were on your way home from an evening stroll in the park, your usual routine to clear your head. But you stopped in your tracks as you heard the faint cry of a child in the distance. You thought your mind was playing tricks on you, still recovering from grief. It wasn’t until you followed the sound when you realized it was no delusion at all.

You gasped at the sight of a baby on the park bench, wrapped in nothing but a blanket and a gold feather necklace around his neck. There was a note beside him that read:

"Don't waste time looking for me when you find this note. I could never provide him with a good life. I hope you take him and care for him as your own. I named him Kunikuzushi. And I would be happy if you kept his name. This is my only request, and please... forgive me." - Ei.

Your brows furrowed in confusion after you finished reading the note, mortified how she could just leave a newborn all alone in a park. What if someone took him, or an animal got to him? You internally berated the woman for being so careless when she could have just given him up for adoption.

Carefully, you folded up the note neatly and placed it in your pocket. The golden feather seemed to be her last gift as well.

You sighed and turned to look at the baby who was crying softly, looking so cold and hungry. How could you leave him here?

Perhaps…He was a blessing. Giving you another chance to be the mother you’ve always wanted to be.