When the Sun Sets on You

Chapter VII: Flare

As the darkness of the night faded, that same television revealed itself inches from my face. Angrily I threw my head back. No matter what I did, I was unable to escape the loops grasp.

'Why am I still here...?' Calling out into the void was pointless, as it gave me no reply. Reaching for another tape was all I could do to pass the time. Tonight, I could decipher the faded letters on its label. The handwriting childish, almost speaking to me directly.

Don't forget your wish!

'My wish?' Unsure of its contents; I fed it into the player. Causing static to erupt from the screen, eagerly pulling me into its embrace.

⁂

My face was hot with shame as I approached the school's librarian, Miss Booth. Her wrinkled face soured when she saw the latest return in my hand. The pages in tatters. Its cover bent and torn from the spine, and several of its contents missing. I pushed the book across the counter, the woman took it gingerly. Cradling it like an injured bird.

'Sorry Miss, uh—the dog got into it again.' The usual excuse slipped out of my mouth. Miss Booth never catching on that it was a lie.

This was my superpower, the only thing I could do to keep myself sane.

'Right, this is the third one. I'm this close to not letting you borrow anything else Tristan—' As she began to rant, my mind pulled away. Unable to focus on her words. Part of me wanted to tell her the truth. But the truth was dangerous, to both of us.

'Can I just keep the one I'm reading behind the counter? Then I won't lose my place, and I won't have to take it home.' Miss Booth's face softened at this; this was the best compromise. She wasn't about to let another student stop themselves from reading.

'Okay, that's fine. I'll get the office to send the bill to your parents. Again.'

'Thank you, really.' With this, I rushed out of the library. Taking a deep breath, closing my eyes. The world enveloped in a deep pink. Above, the wind tore through the nearby trees. Their leaves almost shaking in applause at my successful ruse.

The moment of peace is broken however, as I flinch when something slides against my arm. Though when I try to peek, a voice of a young girl scolds me for opening my eyes.

'Not yet!'

'Come on, Emelia.' I impatiently scrunched my eyes tighter.

'Okay, now open!' The first thing I saw was my friend, a stupid grin across her face. Pointing with her eyes to the braided chord she tied loosely to my wrist. I fiddled with it, thumbing the interlocking strands of red wool.

'Wow, did you make this? It's pretty.'

'Yep, they're friendship bracelets.' She proudly displayed one of her own, its strands were shades of purple. 'Now you have to make a wish and wait for it to fall off. Then it can come true!'

'Don't be stupid. Wishes aren't real.' My nose wrinkled at the thought. While I was grateful for my gift. Her naivety annoyed me at times; her ability to see hope when it wasn't there. It's something I never fully understood, and something I deeply envied.

'Yes, they are!' She squealed.

'I've tried. They're not real.'

'What did you try to wish for?'

'Nothing special...'

Truthfully, I had wished for so much lately. Every time we went to a Sunday mass, mum and I lit a votive candle. She said it was to extend our prayers to someone who needs it. But seeing the choir of flames would stir my own desire. I would wish, no, pray for something utterly selfish instead. Without fail.