Short Stories-Creative Writing Class

My Three Wishes

I was going to die. I was six years old and I was destined for death. I was a kid and I felt my world tumble down around me. Most six year olds are happy, ecstatic, crazy; but no, not me. I felt like I had no reason to live, no one to live for.

                When mother told me this, I didn’t believe her. She tried to persuade me but at the time I barely knew what my heart could and couldn’t do. She just told me that my heart wasn’t like others; I had a special heart. I knew something was wrong with me but I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it, I mostly didn’t want to believe it. But when she told me this all I asked for were three wishes before I died.

                “Yes?” My mother said, with water-rimmed eyes.

                “Number one: I want to go to the beach. Number two: I want to ride an elephant, and number three: I want a puppy.” I told her, hope still in my voice.

                “Sure, anything for you” My mother whispered to me.

                So my wishes were set into motion. Almost right after I told my mother all those things, she tried her best to get them to happen. My family and I flew out to Miami, Florida, and went to one of their best beaches. It was beautiful and I wish I was there now. I remembered the silky sand on my feet, the hot sun beating down on my pale white shoulders, the cold, salty ocean smell.  I wanted to go to the beach so badly when I was younger, I hated the cold weather of North America.

                The beach was where I was meant to be, it’s where I felt right. When I was there it was like all my worries washed away with the tides. Until I had to snap back to realty and remember that I only had a few weeks left to live.

                As fast as we got to the beach, we had to leave it and go to California to an elephant sanctuary. The sanctuary was beautiful. It looked like I was in Africa ready to find myself an elephant to ride. I loved elephants more than anything. Ever since I saw Aboo from ‘Aladdin’ turn into an elephant, I wanted one so bad. And now I had the chance to ride one. The director of the sanctuary helped me get on top of the giant creature, and I could feel my pulse race. I felt the stomping of their feet against the hard ground, and I laughed at their nose swinging behind me and giving my face a tickle. This trip made my love for elephants grow twice as large as it was before.

                The last and final wish was granted to me when we got home. We went to an animal shelter and I got to pick out my puppy. I looked through the barbed wire fences at the different, unique furry animals and I felt myself wanting to take them all home. Some were spotted, some were furry, some were short; others were tall . . . until I finally saw the dog I wanted. She was brown, black, and white and had big, brown, loveable eyes. I named her Hope, after myself, knowing that when I was gone; there’d still be someone living with my name.

                The final week came and I knew I was going to die, I could feel it. My mother took me in to the doctors for my final check up. As we went into the office, I tried to take a mental picture of it. I looked at the fish that were in the small aquarium and the mean old lady behind the desk checking people in. As I went into the office my doctor had me take a seat and told me there was some good news.

                “What is it?” I asked, feeling my eyes extend in surprise; hoping that there was still a chance.

                “You’re not going to die” She said smiling. I stared in disbelief at her and looked to my mother to see if this was a joke or not. My mother answered for me.

                “What do you mean?” My mother seemed just as surprised.

                “We took the wrong test. We accidently switched out your test with someone else’s.  You’re not going to die Hope” I jumped up with glee, and felt all my dread and torment run off of me. I looked at my mother and the doctor talking with smiles on their faces. I knew I was going to be okay.

                So here I am, ten years later and feeling great. I still go in for my usual check up’s but I haven’t had any bad news so far. It feels like yesterday I went to the beach, rode an elephant, and got my best friend Hope. My dog still had my first name but I didn’t care, I thought it had a good memory behind it. I loved my life and everyone in it.