Paper Castles

By Alycia Christine

SHORT STORY.

When Kate Bennett first meets Jo Hitachi, she isn’t sure what to think. How can a person make a decent living selling origami in Washington, D.C.? But with each new paper sculpture that he makes, the simple artist hints that he’s more than he seems. He’s asking her to trust him, but can Kate really afford to trade in the security of her ambitious career for a life built out of love and paper castles?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alycia Christine
• Release date: Nov 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781941588215

Alycia Christine

Alycia Christine grew up near the dusty cotton fields of Lubbock, Texas, with a fearless mutt for a dog and a backyard trampoline that almost bounced her to the moon. She fell in love with fantasy and science fiction books when her father first read them to her at age ten. Her love of fiction writing blossomed during her time at Texas A&M University. Alycia’s fiction has received wide praise for its unique characters and vivid storytelling. Her award-winning art photography has been featured in Times Square. When she isn’t writing or shooting photos, Alycia enjoys long talks with her husband, drinking copious amounts of tea, and coaxing her skittish cat out from under the living room furniture. Find her at AlyciaChristine.com.

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Paper Castles

Alycia Christine

PurpleThornPress.com

Contents

Paper Castles

Meet the Author

Also by Alycia Christine

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Copyright Information

In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmitting of this book, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than brief passages excerpted for review and critical purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [e-mail]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

Paper Castles

I first met the origamist as winter’s icy claws finally retracted in favor of a cool Washington, D.C. spring. He was sitting near the river’s edge with his small white folding table perched over his lap like a stilt-legged bird. Buds of pink cherry blossoms had just begun to bloom around the National Mall and a pale haze of the flowers hung above his head like a floating crown. He was so absorbed in folding his paper sculpture that he didn’t seem to notice me—at least not until I greeted him.

Hi, I said, watching with fascination as his tan hands worked crisp creases into a square sheet of flower-print paper.

The origamist’s deft fingers paused as he smiled up at me.

Hello, he said in his quiet way. Would you like me to create something for you today?

I stared at the different designs and their corresponding names listed on the battered poster taped to the front of his table. Most of the origami sculptures were animals, although there were several types of flowers and baskets to choose from as well. I’d always loved animals, but my apartment manager would never allow me to have any of my own. I smiled as an idea struck me. Surely she