As the sun set on the market and the sky began to darken to a deep blue, spotted with twinkling stars, the little girl stood and ran down the road to the alley. In a dark corner lay an old woman with wispy white hair. She was clothed in a tattered gown, similar to the little girl's, and she lay in the dirt, her head elevated by a towel.
"Gran'ma, Gran'ma!" the little girl cried out. The woman sat up to hug the girl. Then she propped herself up against the wall and watched as the girl ripped the bread into two.
"Happy birthday, Gran'ma!" The girl smiled, showing her yellow teeth. She had one big gap in the middle of her top row, and one in the right on the bottom. The grandmother smiled back, but inside she was miserable.
How could such a wonderful child be left completely alone at such a young age?
The grandmother looked up at the stars as she nibbled her dinner. It was a clear night, and even from the city an infinite amount of stars could be seen.
"Gran'ma?" the girl whispered.
"Yes, my dear."
"I heard in the market that there would be a shootin' star tonight. Can I make a wish, please?" she asked.
"Of course, darling. Just remember," the grandmother added, "don't tell anyone your wish."
"Okie, Gran'ma!"
They ate their dinner slowly, talking of what had happened during the day. Finally, after dinner, came the part that the girl had been waiting for the entirety of the day. She laid her head on her grandmother's lap while her grandmother stroked her hair gently and told a story, however short it was.
The grandmother began. "My Grandma used to tell me of the shooting stars -"
"Like the one tonight?" the girl asked.
"Yes, like tonight's. So, she used to tell me that they weren't stars, but they were the Wish Messengers, an' if you kept your wish safe enough, the Messengers would come in the night an' grant you your wish."
"Like the Tooth Fairy! She takes my teeth and gives me a gift in return!"
"Yes, dear. But then, my Grandpa told me that I had to give some gifts to the Messengers, an' if I was a good girl, I would get my wish."
"Like Santa!"
"Yes, like Santa."
They sat in silence for some time, and the girl was nodding off. Suddenly, she jolted up, startling her grandmother, and shouted, "I'm going to give some gifts to the Messengers, Gran'ma!"
The woman laughed, then wheezed. "Okay, have fun. But come back to sleep soon."
As the girl ran off to find some of her treasures, the grandmother teared up. Please let your wish come true. Please find a family who can take care of you longer than I could. She laid down and waited for the girl to come sleep.
Meanwhile, the girl had found a few coins that she had saved up for some apples for her grandmother, some black cord and a green bead, and an old wooden heart with the letters "FAMILY" etched on one side and the word "FOREVER" on the other - memoirs of her dead family. She arranged them on a cloth next to her bed and made her wish. Then she snuggled up with her grandmother and fell asleep.
The Messenger came in her dreams. At first, the girl couldn't see anything. There was no blinding light; it was pure darkness. Then it was as though someone had lit a candle. The light was faint, but bright; warm, but distant. Then it was a circle of candles, all enclosing the girl and some shadowed entity. Finally the person came into view.
The Messenger wore a green dress, and her spiky blue hair was at shoulder length. Her eyes were a flashing yellow.
"H-hello," the girl said.
"Dear, don't be afraid. I won't hurt you," the Messenger said. "I am here to grant your wish."
"But I didn't give a good gift to you. Why me?"
"Your will was strong enough to call me. Now tell me, what is it that you seek?"
"I wish that... that I will forever be with my family. Especially Gran'ma!" the girl declared.
"I'm sorry, I can't grant you that. No one can save a dying person," the Messenger responded dismally. It was impossible to make such an innocent child miserable.
But the girl seemed unfazed. "Oh, that's not what I want. I just want to go with Gran'ma. Then I'll be with her, won't I?"
The Messenger was taken aback by such a strange request. Then she sighed and disappeared.
All the lights went out at once.
The man needed to throw out the leftovers from dinner. He decided to give the remaining food to the poor girl who was taking care of her sick grandmother. He knew that they had been living in the same street for months now. He informed his wife and walked down the market road with the food and a lantern. He turned down the dark alley and treaded carefully, holding the light far ahead of him.
He found the two, sleeping calmly side by side. He set his things down and began to try to wake them. The old lady didn't respond. The man realized that she was gone, peacefully in her sleep.
The food will be good for the girl. He tapped her gently. No response. He shook her. Nothing. Her head rolled to face him. The girl was gone too, a smile of her last dream frozen on her face. In her hand lay a wooden heart and a few coins.
The man returned home.
