In the Year of the Dragon, I Must Love Dragons

The dragon is the only dragon in the world.

Life is so boring that the thing it does most every day is listen to what people who speak to it have to say.

Then it discovers that one person says the same thing day after day:

I really love dragons. If only I could meet a dragon just once.

The human says it for 999 days. On the thousandth day, the dragon's friend says, "Why don't you go meet him? If he really likes you, you could even date him."

The dragon says, "How could it not be real? Just wait and see."

So, on the thousand and first day, the dragon takes human form and knocks on the human's door.

"Hello, I'm a dragon. I hear you like me. Shall we get married?"

He is a cunning human who makes wishes day after day for his own benefit, and successfully tricks the dragon into staying by his side.

The dragon puts on a haughty expression and says, "Hello. Let's get married."

He suppresses a malicious smile, puts on a troubled expression, and says, "Dragon, you don't like me. How can I marry you? Stay here, and I'll teach you what it means to like someone."

The dragon thinks it over and agrees.

So he takes the world's fiercest creature with him, traverses every inch of the continent, and sees all the myriad things in the world. He teaches the dragon what it means to like someone, what love is, what possession is, what letting go is, and what hate is.

The dragon learns well, so in the end, it flies away.

It leaves behind only the words, "I hate you."

He watches the dragon disappear into the distance and knows that perhaps he never tamed it. Instead, the dragon tamed him.

Note:

1. Dragon top, human bottom

2. Blurb written on 2022.12.24, first edition

Theme: Respect and bless all who find love