Her Wish

Her Wish [Chapter 2]

The sun had long-since set but Jennie still hadn’t returned home. Instead, she had stayed and opted for the vast, grassy fields as a recreational place.

Stars were shining brightly above her, along with the familiar glow of a crescent-shaped moon. It was the time of day Jennie liked best.

A satisfied breath trembled her lips momentarily as she lay down on her back and gazed longingly at the stars above her. Such a practice had become something like a nightly ritual to her over the past few years. Each time she did so, she was reminded of her mother who had died just three years before. And each time she’d look out into the vast, darken sky shining with widespread stars, Jennie would release all pent up emotions and thoughts usually kept inside, spilling her heart’s contents to just about the only person she ever relied on.

“Mommy, it’s me again,” she whispered softly into the dark stillness of night, “Life’s been okay. I think daddy found himself a girlfriend and between the new woman and his work, it seems as though he’s never around anymore. School’s fine though. I’ve been getting good grades… you’re proud, aren’t you?”

Jennie exhaled deeply, closing her eyes and resting them for a second before blinking once more and continuing on, “mommy… I don’t think George will ever notice me. The only girl he sees is Elie. What about me? I know I’m nowhere near as pretty as her nor am I nowhere near as outgoing but… what about me? Is there really no room for me?”

She stopped there, not wanting to worry her mother any further. Deep inside, Jennie had always known she had no chance. It had been this way for years and she knew all too well that her confession to her mother was the same every time.

Chuckling sadly, Jennie shook her head at her own foolishness and apologized, “I’m sorry, mommy. I should have learned by now. Your daughter’s quite slow at these things. But don’t worry! It’s just time… it just takes time… You don’t have to worry about me, though. I’m fine; I’m doing just fine.

“I’m sure daddy misses you too. We all do, mommy. Why’d you have to leave us?” Then, lowering her eyes, she added as an afterthought, “Life was so much better with you here.”

A soft rustle from some distance away was heard, causing Jennie’s ears to perk up but when she heard nothing more, she just assumed it had been the wind playing games with her imagination.

However, her chatter ceased and instead, Jennie immersed herself in the comforting pristine of nature. Her light, rhythmic breaths replaced her words as thoughts and images ran throughout her mind.

Images of George Right, to be more precise… images of George Right and Elie Stronghold together. The way his smile brightened at the mere sight of Jennie’s best friend, the jealous looks he shot towards Danny Blake, the lustful compliments directed to Elie– Jennie conjured all those images in her mind and wished more than anything that they had been for her instead.

Useless wishing. It was the same every time.

“Someone help me,” she mumbled softly, though not really expecting a response. It seemed that all her wishes were always ignored. There was no God, no higher being caring for others and shedding euphoria in peoples’ lives. For Jennie, there was no one.

Frowning, Jennie turned over onto her stomach and buried her face in her arms, treating them as a pillow as she began to clear her mind of any unwanted thoughts of her desolation and patent lack of strong relationships.

“I can help you.”

Bewilderment rushing throughout her, concomitant with a feeling of dread as realization struck upon her that someone had actually been listening to her useless rambles; Jennie slowly rose to a sitting position, eyes shifting to find the source of the voice.