THE MID NIGHT WISH

The velle fountain

My mother tightened her grip on my hand and took a deep breath. Her eyes had reddened from the tears and her nose ran a little. This was her last hope. That's what she had said. Her blue frosty eyes searched for a miracle as she led me to the middle of the park. The autumn air tickled my nose as the colours danced to get my attention. I remember being amazed at the bright colours of leaves as they daintily made their way to the ground to meet their friends.

I looked at my mother as she left my hand and reached for a purse. In front of me was a large fountain. In the middle there was a pillar to which a statue of an old lady beggar lady stood. In one hand, the statue held a bowl; while from the other water ran as though she were pouring it. The sculptor had detailed it very well as you could see a longing in her eyes as though she wanted to be set free from the pillar.

My mother removed a small silver coin and kissed it before tossing it into the fountain.

"Darling," she said, "they say the lady knows what you wish for. Wish with all your heart and make sure to..."

She was cut off as some rowdy teenagers bumped into her. As she gathered herself I looked at the statue and peered into her eyes. Could she really grant a wish? Well there was only one way to know.

"Mama I want to make wish too," I said as she held my hand to walk away.

She looked at me and smiled. I had seen her smile for the first time in a few months. If the fountain could not grant wishes, it could give some hope and encouragement. After getting an MIA telegram from the military, my mother was in despair. My father had not reported back to base camp after a bomb went off in a classified region. The agony my mother felt had left me feeling distant.

She handed me a small silver coin and just like her, I made a wish, kissed the coin then tossed it into the fountain. My mother placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled at me, the wrinkles more visible now. She started to bend over the fountain and cup some water in her hands when there was a loud bang. She quickly straightened up and scanned the place. It was an armed robbery or perhaps worse. With fear in her eyes, she knelt down in front of me.

"Dee, I want you to go to Mason's bakery and sit there quietly until I come for you. I want you to go as fast as possible. Is that okay?" she said with a shaky voice.

I nodded and she planted a kiss on my forehead before I bolted in the opposite direction. I ran out of the park and across the street. The smell of freshly made confectioneries lured me inside and I sat down on a chair close to the counter.

A man emerged from the kitchen wearing a chef's uniform and he approached me. His warm hazel eyes and his gummy smile made me feel at ease. Mason was my mother's friend in his late twenties who came to the city to try and run a successful line of confectioneries.

"Hey kid, where is your mother?" He asked as he took a seat next to me.

"She heard boom and told me to come here. I want cake Mason," I said, barely paying attention to Mason as his expression changed from happy to worry.

Mason walked out and paced in front of hislittle homely bakery with worry. The park my mother was in seemed to be in messwith people outside and in, trying to run around and find their loved ones. Itwas more of an act of terrorism. With many rumours such as tones of gold hidden in the statue, there was bound to be an attack one day. However, contrary to the wish I made, it wasn't supposed to happen at all. What was my wish? To make sure my mother is alive when my father came home.

The opposite happened. After the panic died down and the terrorists apprehended, Mason inquired all around and found out, in the heat of the moment, as my mother tried running out of the park, she was shoved and hit her head on a rock. Apart from that, the stampede caused a few more injuries to her head and body.

Pained from that experience I concluded that wishes didn't mean anything. However whenever I could get the chance, I would sit at the edge of the fountain and throw coins in, wishing for random things. If they couldn't come true, the fountain could at least listen to my wishes without judging me.

That was almost 19 years ago, when I was just five years old. I managed to get a job and provide enough for my mother for about three years before she passed on. Yet there was an unsatisfactory feeling in my heart.

On the night of December 31st, I walked aimlessly into the park. I found myself in front of the fountain. The old lady was staring at me intently, her eyes looking into my soul. I sighed. I was twenty four years old and I had a room in Mason's house, a part time job and studied at a culinary school. I still wasn't satisfied with what I had. I peered into the water and saw the shining coins at the bottom. Numerous wishes made but how many were actually fulfilled. Sure that one lady got pregnant after wishing for it, but the doctor did tell her there was a 30% chance of conceiving.

I put my hands in my pocket and removed a silver coin. I turned it in my hand a few times not knowing what I should wish for. As I looked at my reflection in the water, one thought kept popping into my mind. As a small child, the little mermaid's story always fascinated me. She found her true love. Maybe that's what I was craving, true love. I tossed my coin into the fountain and watched it sink. I scoffed as it landed on the other coins.

'What a scam', I thought as I turned around.

As I did so, I slipped on a mossy rock near the fountain and lost my balance. I fell backwards, into the fountain and involuntarily swallowed some of the water. As I stood back up, I coughed to remove the taste of water left in my mouth. It tasted like metal.

'Probably all the coins,' I thought as I pulled my hair away from my face.

Once I pulled my hair back, I saw a pair of amused green eyes staring at me. These green eyes belonged to a very handsome face. He had wonderful shaggy black hair and sultry lips, tempting to kiss. He smiled and held out his hand, his muscles flexing perfectly to be seen under the light white cotton shirt. He was dreamy.

"Gimme your hand and I'll help you out mam," he said in his gruff voice, snapping me back to reality.

I placed my hand in his as he pulled me out. As he did, I lost my balance and fell on him. His strong arms held me up as he grunted trying to keep me upright. I must have weighed a lot more than I thought. His skin was soft and silky. The complexion above his tan line showed he was a lot fairer than he looked. I gained my balance and stood straight. He was perfection. As Mason would say, it was the best art from God Himself.

He looked down at his wet shirt and sighed. I couldn't help but notice the stray hair falling over his eyes as he examined the mess I made. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion as his eyes searched for his jacket. He looked up at my and grinned, showing his pearly white teeth.

"Glad I could help," he said extending his hand.

"I'm glad you could help," I automatically said as I took his hand in mine.

The warmth of his hand was soothing and his rough palm against my soft one made feel awed at how perfect he was.

"I'll see ya when I can," he said, taking back his hand and starting off in the opposite direction.

What had just happened? I looked at my hand and realised this man, whoever he was made me feel some sort of happiness. I looked up to call him but he had disappeared. I looked around the park to catch a glimpse of him but in vain. I smiled to myself, looking at my hand that was feeling so warm from his touch.

"I hope I see you soon, green eyes," I said with a broad smile.