Entwined

Wishes

I had always thought that one day I would become someone special...

One day...

I would find something where it was clear I had a talent…

For a long time now, I had always imagined that I was a knight who had fought many battles to protect a princess, but it seems I didn't make it…

What should I do?

---

I liked that place.

The quiet empty train station where nobody came was the best place for reading alone. After mom left me, I had suffered a lot. Dad wouldn’t even care to look at this son of his. He just locked himself in his room, always. Then I would sneak out in school to left myself free of all the burden of life, which is when I found myself here.

However, someone got before me today.

She was sitting on the bench looking up in the darkening horizon. The wind caressed her brown hair loose revealing a pair of hazel eyes. There was something with those eyes, the one thing I’m used to… misery.

"N-No trains come to this station." I stammered.

I can notice her gaze shift from her side where she had a journal, for what I can make of it and then her sight averted to me. She only mouthed, “Uh…” now her hands were making its way into her lap, shaking.

Of all things, I can feel heat rise up to my cheeks. "Ah, sorry. It's nothing." I can’t help but feel I’d known her before, whatever I do to recall and challenge my memory... I can’t quite place it. So, I turn on my heel and walked back. "B-Bye."

She hadn’t said anything so I chanced another look and saw her smile to me and waved me a goodbye.

Today was the first time I met her. That was an encounter that last less than forty-five second.

---

During homeroom after school, the printouts from the career interest survey were handed out to us. Unlike the dream of the future we had when we were children, we now have to define our future concretely.

I want to be a prince who fights to protect a princess from disasters. I'm far past the age that would allow me to write down a dream like that. It seems I didn't make it. What should I do?

Now that I’m alone… Mom left me with another man and Dad gone after her. I don’t know if I can continue living life… Curse that man, I only he hadn’t laid his hands on my mom then this wouldn’t have to happen… those dreams I used to have shattered…. Now I am alone.

---

The next day I’ve visited an old shrine, a place my mom would always bring me with her. I would always play around it when I met this guy, he wouldn’t tell me who he is or what he’s been doing there. But he was there, the only reminder of what that place means to me…

“What should I do to fulfill my dream?”

"And... why are you asking me?" He asked, eyeing me.

"I want to hear an adult's opinion. I thought you might be able to give me some good advice"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not a pastor, or a counselor."

"But since you're always here. It's natural for me to approach you for advice."

"What do you like?"

"Eh, what do I like? Reading, I guess. I like fiction."

"You can go with that then."

"But isn't it too hasty to just turn something I like into my job?"

"To fulfill your dream, you need to have a dream first. You might think it’s obvious, but it’s very important something. You can have an image, a desire, or a wish of what you want to become. Never forget about it, and keep wishing for it. That’s the first step to fulfilling your dream. Sometimes the outcome of your action, which becomes inevitable, will overlap with accidents, and fulfill your dream unexpectedly. If that can be called a miracle, but there’s one thing I’m certain about. Nothing will happen if you don’t wish for it. It's a thousand times better than doing something you hate. Don't worry, consider it. No more advice, this is my adult's opinion.”

Adult's...opinion. I feel like I understand it but I don't really get it. Either way, I have to think it through myself. He made it sound so simple.

---

I found myself back here in the train station. However, I’m not alone, again.

"Hi. You… are you okay?"

"Hello."

"Did I interrupt you?"

She looked as if she wanted to say something but shut her mouth and said, "No. Erm, can I ask you something weird? Did we meet before?"

"Y-Yeah."

"Really? I'm sorry. As I thought we did meet before."

"Well, actually we just said 'hi' to each other."

"I guess you're right."

Moments of silence...

She looked back up in the darkening sky. "E-Erm..." She said, ending the long silence.

"Yeah?"

"Do you always come here?"

"No. Just now and then."

"This is a nice and quiet place."

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”