Seven Lights of Millennium (Published under Project NY)

Seven Lights of Millennium (Short Fantasy Story)

Even when I was young, my parents won't allow me to play with other kids. For nearly seventeen years, I was kept within the four corners of my room. They even hired me a tutor so they can assure that I won't go too far, yet I'm still able to learn. All my life, I felt like I've become a prisoner within my own home.

I was forbidden to travel and see the outside world so all I can do is to glance through the great scenery in my books. I cannot even interact with the residents in our neighborhood. I am allowed to go outside but for just a short period of time. I cannot even watch the beauty of sunset.

For every move I make, there is a certain limitation due to my frail body. This disease of mine is inborn and I've been enduring it for more than a decade. I was prohibited to neither be exhausted nor feel too much happiness. There are times when I can barely breathe when my chest is burning.

I've wondered and asked myself once. There are billions of people around the globe yet why am I chosen by this illness? In the end, I accepted my condition, telling myself that it's alright to suffer instead of hoping that somehow, I should switch place with them.

My life wasn't ordinary to begin with and I thought that it will stay the same, but when I get the chance to meet him, I felt that my life momentarily changed.

It was over a year ago but it felt like it was yesterday.

It was already late that time when I suddenly awoke from my deep slumber. I felt the cold breeze of air coming from the window of my balcony. When I opened my eyes and gazed at it, I fuzzily saw a strange figure of a man.

I thought that I'm still dreaming but then I've realized that I'm not half asleep. When I sat down in my bed, I turned on the light of my lampshade, rubbed my eyes and was astonished to find out that he's still there.

I want to shriek out of fear but I can't. I was muffled by his presence. "Don't be frightened, Eden," for the first time, I've heard his voice as he took his footsteps, walking closer to me.

"W-who are you? How did you know my name? W-what do you want from me?" I anxiously whispered.

From the moment he successfully entered my room and the soft light of my lampshade struck his face, I clearly saw his latency. His tantalizing eyes were a pair of stunningly dark brown orbs, partnered with his hair with golden strands. His nose is pointed and his lips look so tender. "But you've called me," he said. "My name is Ibrahim and I have come to grant your wish."

"But I do not even know you... and I don't know about the wish you were talking about," then I scratched my head off and gave him a puzzled stare.

A small curved formed in his lips. "Remember the falling star you've seen earlier?" Oh, that falling star? Now that rings a bell! I happened to see one before I go to bed. I even made a wish -as it was referred as a "wishing vessel" from the book I've read before.

"What about it?"

"It was me, the God of wishes." He sat down in my bed and I automatically moved away, pushing myself to lean at the wall. "I always visit the mortal world once in every millennium. I happened to sense your grave desire so I decided to grant it."

Are my ears deceiving me this time? Or what I've heard is real? "T-that's impossible mister. You can't be the real... "

"You want some proof?" He didn't let me finish and asked. This man, claiming himself as the God of wishes, held my hand and I don't know the reason why I didn't refuse. He brought me to the balcony and despite the cold breeze, I can feel the warmth between our palms.