The White Butterfly

 

"Once in Japan there was an old man whose name was Takahama's, and who lived from his youth in a small house that he himself had built next to a cemetery, on top of a hill. He was a man loved and respected for his kindness and generosity, but locals often wondered why he lived in solitude next to the cemetery and why he had never married.

One day the old man became seriously ill, being close and his death, and his sister-in-law and nephew went to look after him in his last moments and assured him that everything he needed would be with him. Especially his nephew, who was not separated from the old man.

One day, when the window of the room was open, a small white butterfly snuck into the interior. The young man tried to scare her away several times, but the butterfly always returned inside, and finally, tired, let her flutter next to the old man.

After a long time, the butterfly left the room and the young man, curious for his behavior and marveling at his beauty, followed her. The small being flew to the cemetery next to the house and headed for a grave, around which it would flutter until it disappeared. Although the tomb was very old, it was clean and well-kept, surrounded by fresh white flowers. After the butterfly disappeared, the young nephew returned to the house with his uncle, to discover that the butterfly had died.

The young man ran to tell his mother what happened, including the butterfly's strange behavior, to which the woman smiled and told the young man why the elder Takahana had spent his life there.

In her youth, Takahana met and fell in love with a young woman named Akiko, whom she was to marry. However, a few days before the liaison, the young woman died. This plunged Takahama into sadness, from which he would recover. But nevertheless he decided that he would never marry, and that's when he built the house next to the cemetery in order to be able to visit and care every day for his beloved's grave.

The young man reflected and understood who the butterfly was, and that now his uncle Takahama had finally met with his beloved Akiko."

A beautiful tale of Japanese origin that tells us about love, specifically a love capable of transcending time and even death. An eternal love.

Man Histories