A Wish for You

Chapter one: A storybook

As we begin our tale the same way many classic tales began, with a story book.

Once upon a time, the golden glow of the candle filled the room as a young girl and her father huddled close together as they looked at a blue and white book.

As the father went through the pages as he was telling the tale; “Long ago, in a world where dreams are born from the whispers of the heart, there lived a young sorcerer who understood the profound significance of wishes.”

The young girl, named Asha, was looking at the book with her Father, Tomás as he continued the tale; “As he grew older, the young sorcerer knew the morality of the world as he lost his homeland when he was still a child.”

“What happened?” she said.

Tomás folded an arm around Asha’s shoulder and the book glowing brighter as he still read the story; “Seeking to give his people peace, the sorcerer learns through his magic, the power to turn the hopes and dreams of his people into something tangible.”

“A wish.” Asha addressed.

“Yes, Asha, an actual wish, and for the good and worthy, even grant those wishes…But such power did not go unnoticed.” Tomás explained as he remembered it like it was yesterday: In the humble home of the sorcerer, a harsh blaze exploded outside their home.

“For some strange reason, monsters from the heavens descended as you were still being born, us and along with the sorcerer and his wife were forced to flee our home.”

The sorcerer, holding the lamp and rowing a boat, is filled with a group of frightening people as they struggle across the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

“And though many joined us, hoping to find a new home, we could not escape the dangers…but the sorcerer used every ounce of his power to protect the wishes and the people, driving the monsters back to the skies.”

Tomás’s eyes shimmered in the candlelight as he recalled the night his young family fled the violence that had swept through the land.

As Asha listened to her father’s story, she snuggled close, worried for the families of the story as Tomás got to the good part of the story.

“Grateful to the young man for saving them, the people decided to make him their king, as he promised to protect the wishes of his subjects from those who intended to harm them. Soon, under his and his wife’s guidance, the magical kingdom of Rosas began to flourish, attracting attention and visitors from near and far. The people pledged to serve and give their wishes to their king and in return he would protect and grant them, of course under the promise that they would never wish upon: A star.

The End.”

As Tomás closed the book with tears in his eyes, laying on the bed with a smile, admiring the silver and flowery details on the book cover as he was reminded of the days that he counted for his life.

Just then, the door suddenly opened and Sabino appeared in the room, signaling that it was for bed and for something else.

“Tomas, he's here.” Sabino said.

“Ok, Dad.” Tomás said.

As Sabino led Asha out of the room, Tomás looked at the sky as it would be possibly the last time that he looked at them, as Sabino and Asha paused in front of the door.

“Is Dad going to be okay, Saba?” a 5-year old Asha said.

Sabino bent down to Asha. “ I don't know but I know your father is tough. After all, I was the one who raised him.”

“Thank you, Saba.” Asha said.

“Don't think of me yet it's still too early to know.” Sabino said.

“Yeah, I hope so… good night saba, I love you” Asha said.

“Love you too.” Sabino said as he blew away the last candle, it all went dark.