The Magic of Origami

He drags his finger nail down the edge of the crease to sharpen the fold. This was more than just a paper bird. His pupils dilate as if had just seen his one true love for the first time. He starts the next fold.

A book entitled 'the Magic of Origami' lay open on the table next to the photo ID Simon used for work. Life as a number pusher for the local council had recently become a stone. No longer could he just sit there day after day, oblivious of the world's powers.

An impulse buy from The Works on Church Street. Something to do in the evening instead of vegetating to Coronation Street. A hobby. This was to occupy his mind, but it turned out to be so much more.

The first time he didn't understand, thought the feeling was pride at achieving something he had never done before. Soon he realised that in fact he was exhilarated, almost aroused by each new fold.

He began to imagine that he could put a little bit of his soul into these paper models, give them life. In that moment his two hundred and eighty sixth butterfly flapped its wings for the first time, the electricity surging through his body was akin to ejaculating twenty times in one go. Nothing had ever felt so good.

Soon he had created his own paper zoo. Each creature larger and more complicated than the one before. Each new life giving a bigger and bigger rush. This was all he wanted to do.  This was all he started to do. This was everything he did.

Now he only sleeps when his body can take no more. Eat cold foods that require no preparation to minimize the time he is away from his children, his creations.

He finishes the last fold on the latest section of his new wife's left hand. She will love him and share his world. She will understand more than these doctors.

He takes out a fresh sheet of paper and begins to fold.  He drags his finger nail down the edge of the crease to sharpen the fold. This was more than just a paper bird. His pupils dilate as if had just seen his one true love for the first time. He starts the next fold.