naeun sighed as she watched the last bus leave the bus stop. she had missed it. no matter how fast her legs could take her, she was never able to catch the last bus to her house in time. it left her with the tiresome option of walking the 7 miles back to her house in the evening. you would think she would make her way to the bus stop straight after school but her daily visits to the cemetery was one she could not pass on.
she smiled to herself at the thought. she secretly loved walking back home alone despite the long distance and possible dangers along the way, but she didn't care. her own company was more than enough for her. it felt comforting to see the same things and the same people again. it brought her comfort. the young, quiet handsome man walking his dog nodding his head to the music. the old and sweet lady who owned the convenience store who waved at naeun every time she passed there.
she hummed along to the music playing in her earphones, matching her steps to the beat. her blisfullness was cut short as she felt something wet land on her head. naeun looked up to the clouds darkening and a low grumble of thunder. before she knew it, it began ranging heavily. she covered her head with her backpack and ran to the nearest building for shelter.
--
naeun stated in wonder and amazement at the hundreds and thousands of books displayed in front of her on the shelves. she felt lucky as to run into a run down library for shelter. her love of books was one that couldn't be unmatched. the ability to create new worlds and escape from reality was what drew her in. the library seemed to be in need of a lot of tlc. the wood was stripping away and the tables seemed like they would almost collapse at a single touch. it was awfully dim. but there was a somewhat magical feel in the air. it was awfully quiet. well, more quiet than usual. it was a library after all.
little "woahs" and gasps escaped her mouth as she began to look around, gobsmacked at the beauty of the library. naeun made her way to the fantasy section, her favourite genre. she wasn't sure if fairies or goblins really did exist, and sometimes laughed at the idea, but she found it amusing to read about them and deep inside she really did want them to be real.
naeun searched through the books and shelves but was stopped in her tracks. there was someone else here. it was an old lady. she was hunched over and used a wooden stuck for support. her clothes seemed rather ragged and torn. she was wearing a long dress and a shawl over her shoulders both in a dusty browny-green colour. her face seemed friendly with the corner of her lips turned up into a soft smile.
"hello dear." she called out in a croaky voice. naeun was startled, unsure on whether to reply or not. stranger danger of course. she gulped and gathered some courage to reply.
"hello." she replied, but it only seemed to come out as a whisper.
the old woman laughed. her eyes turning into cresent shapes. she had a lovely smile, naeun thought and she was able to relax a little.
"come come, help me to the table would you dearie? these legs don work as they used to." she ushered looking at naeun. naeun hesitated but eventually helped the old lady to the table. she sat down and naeun wearily followed.
"young lady, do you believe in wishes?" she questioned naeun.
"wishes?" naeun replied, confused at the random question.
"yes, wishes. something that you want to happen." the old lady explained.
"i don't think i do. none of mine have ever come true." naeun said, feeling bummed out.
"i'm sorry to hear that. i have something for you." she said softly. naeun's ears perked up. the old lady unwrapped something and asked naeun to hold her hand out. she grabbed her hand and placed something inside it. wearily, she opened it to reveal a small box. it was encrusted in jewels and shone even under the dim lights. she gazed in awe at the beautiful thing and the old lady chuckled.
"this is very special to me. before you go to sleep write your wish on a piece of paper. roll it up and place it inside the box. position it under your pillow and recite your wish over and over again in uour mind when you are falling asleep. make sure to look after it." the old lady said happily.
"but wishes don't come true." naeun said.
"they won't with that mindset. now you better get going. it's getting late and i have to close up. up you get." she ushered naeun.
naeun bowed in respect and exited the building. she placed the box safely in her pocket and smiled to herself thinking about the encounter. the rain had stopped now as she began to finally make her way home.
--
the strong and sickening smell of alcohol filled her nostrils upon entering the house. this was a common occurance. she placed her belongings away and walked inside. she called out for her father but received no reply. if he wasn't drinking at home, he was probably drinking his sorrows away at the local bar and hooking up ith random women. she heard her stomach rumble but was way too mentally and physically exhausted at this point to rustle something up so she headed to bed.
naeun removed the dainty box out of her pocket and thought to herself, what if my wish really did come true? no time was wasted, as she grabbed a piece of paper and pen and hastily scribbled down her wish and followed the instructions the lady had given her straight down to the t.
she eagirly jumped into bed and placed it under her pillow whilst reciting the wish as instructed. "i wish to be happy. i wish to be happy. i wish to be happy..." before she knew it she had fallen asleep.
--
a few hours had passed by before she was strangely woken up to the sound of loud bangs and crashes. she bolted awake.
"dad?" she said. no response. she called his name out again a bit louder but no response again. quietly, she got out if bed and started making her way to the sound. she grabbed a baseball bat for protection. down the stairs she went towards the kitchen where the sound seemed to have been coming from.
there was someone there. and it definitely wasn't her father.
