Millions Of Shooting Stars And Only One Wish (OliKase)

Millions Of Shooting Stars And Only One Wish

The quiet creak of the door disturbed the dead silence in the corridor. Footsteps echoed off the old wooden floors as I made my way to my room. The kerosene lamp in my hand cast a soft, dim light, painting the space in golden-orange hues. The evening was cool, but the light silk robe offered me some warmth after my recent bath. My hair was still damp, with droplets of water running down my neck, making me constantly wipe it as if they were insects crawling on me.

Closing the door behind me, I finally felt safe. No one should know what I'm planning to do tonight... Mother always scolded me for this, saying that sooner or later, people would burn or hang me in the main square of our not-so-large town. Extinguishing the lamp, I stepped out onto the balcony, where the cold night air enveloped me, causing me to shiver, though the feeling was rather pleasant. Silence reigned all around, only a slight breeze rustling the leaves on the trees by the window. I carefully surveyed the surroundings. No one. Just me, the night, and the stars.

Hidden from prying eyes, I carefully took out my special outfit from under the bed. This attire always brought me a sense of comfort and inner harmony. A white shirt and a warm reddish-brown skirt with light patterns. A skirt that I could only wear in these moments when I was alone, for who would approve of such a thing? Certainly not Mother... she was often ashamed of me as it was. I was quiet and rude to everyone with whom I felt even slightly uncomfortable, and people like that are not well-liked. I didn't grow up this way for no reason — since birth, the left side of my body was somewhat strange, unhealthy. Half of my body was covered in red spots, which, lacking a better term other than some ridiculous religious fanatic names, everyone called birthmarks. They didn't hinder my physical life, but people always stared, whispered, feared me, thinking I was contagious... My parents weren't much better — we rarely communicated, rarely interacted. Mother at least tried to be a good mother, while Father simply ignored me, giving all his attention to the older ones — my brother and sister, with whom I also had strained relationships... how else could I have turned out?

I put on my favorite skirt, feeling the fabric gently brush against my skin, and then took out the jewelry — several bracelets and a necklace. These accessories helped me concentrate and enter the right state of mind. Almost all of them were made of beautiful stones that I had found outside the town, and each stone was chosen with care, as I felt a connection with each one.

Opening the bedside table, I took out a candle and my Tarot deck. The candle quickly lit up, filling the balcony with a soft, flickering light. I placed it on the edge of the table, sat down on the soft chair, and, taking a deep breath of the cool air, closed my eyes. For several minutes, I simply sat in silence, feeling the night wrap me in its calm. Only the smell of the burning candle slowly filled the space around me.

Opening my eyes, I carefully took the cards. They lay in my hands like something alive... I began to shuffle them, whispering my question: "Will something happen to me tonight, why have I been so anxious all day?"

The cards slowly flowed from hand to hand until I felt they were ready to reveal their secret. My hand slowly slid over the rows of cards as if trying to catch their hidden energy. One of the cards suddenly drew me in, as if whispering its meaning. I drew it and turned it over — Death. My heart fluttered for a moment, but I quickly reminded myself that this card doesn't predict an end, but rather transformation, changes that are inevitable. This night could mark the beginning of a new phase, and the card only confirmed my worries.

I took a deep breath and reached for the cards again. The second card easily fell into my hand, as if it wanted to be chosen. I turned it over — The Star. The soft light on the card seemed to respond within me with calm and hope. The Star, a symbol of inspiration and something bright, promised something good, perhaps even a miracle. I felt the tension that had gripped me all day begin to ease. This night might bring me something special, something I had never seen before.