The God of Wishes

4

Chapter 4

Miss Ina & Cole now had 20 silver coins and 6 copper coins. That was enough to build the shelter. Miss Ina and Cole's schedules were so different but they came together to build their shelter.

Every day, they'd wash up in the pond, hunt for food, go make money, buy supplies then come home and build up the shelter.

They looked out for each other. The seasons passed and before either of them knew it, Cole turned 9. Many laughs were shared; many hugs and thanks were given & plenty of love radiated. They'd grown close as ever and there was never a doubt in their minds about meeting each other. They'd do it all over again.

Ina didn't know how to celebrate—for she hadn't done so in decades, so naturally she just bought him a platter of cookies with the extra money she was saving. She bought his favorite: chocolate chip cookies. It was a delectable delight that they'd shared two times prior and they savored the flavor.

They were just about ready to move into the shelter completely. Their timing was impeccable because the rainy season was coming soon. The crops they'd harvested were stored in baskets inside the shelter until the flooring was done.

Cole had just returned. He smelled it before he got there, for the wind carried the cookies' scent all the way to his nostrils.. like it was meant to lead him home. He happily greeted Ina after quickly settling the wheelbarrow of materials.

"Do I smell cookies?" Cole asked.
"Yes, you do," Ina replied. She grabbed the hot platter with her kitchen mitt, swiftly pivoting to the little boy behind her. "Happy birthday!" She exclaimed with a bright smile.

"Thanks," he said as she ruffled his hair. He took a cookie before going to work on the floor. Ina tended to dinner while Cole was busy.

Cole was a bright, respectful boy who cared for Ina deeply. When dinner was done, Ina presented a plate of hot food to Cole. They ate dinner, conversing about anything that came to mind. Be it the town, the house, work or each other. They talked about everything.

"I also have another present for you," Ina said while slightly clapping her hands. She went to the table top to gather a neatly wrapped red box.

Inside the box laid a journal. The journal was a personal gift from Miss Ina. "You can write down anything in the journal, you can even make it your diary. A notebook is always helpful."

"Thank you so much," Cole hugged Ina profoundly professing his thanks for the gifts. He couldn't thank her enough. They grew together, loving one another.

There's a saying that goes "You're only here for a short number of days so you'd better make the best of it." It's the motto every one should live by.

Black puffs of smoke invaded the air. Cole was frightened. He didn't want to think the worst, but he could feel it that something wasn't right. Something was completely wrong.

He scurried home, getting closer and closer to clouds of smoke. His worst fear came true when he saw his home burning to the ground.

"Ina," Cole screamed. He couldn't go inside, for the house was collapsing. He circled the outside of his home, calling to her. He finally came to a window where he could hear her voice.

"Leave me here," she coughed.
"No," Cole refused.

"You have to," she argued. "I can't make it out and you can't make it in," she coughed. "This is it for me, Cole. For me! Not you. Live on."

"I'll go get help," Cole tried.
"By the time you get help, I'll be nothing but ash," she coughed.
"Save your breath," Cole cried. "It's okay, Ina. It's okay." His eyes darted around, searching for anything he could use to put the fire out.

Ina laughed. "Cole, it's okay. I'm glad I got to finally be a mom again. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be so happy right now."

Cole refused to buy into this tragedy. There were no containers to even dip into the pond. He wished for a miracle. A wish that Miss Ina would be miraculously saved from their burning house.

She wished for him to be happy, and with one last squeeze of each other's hand, Ina let go of Cole's hand, pleading for him to get away from the monstrosity of flames. She threw whatever she could outside of the small window.

Even in her moments of death, she thought of Cole. Throwing whatever she deemed important to Cole so it could be saved. She was selfless even then.

Cole cried for weeks. His heart was hurt. The only way he knew how to describe that feeling was lost.. broken.

Lost because he felt that way. His only companion had left him. He lost his best friend. He lost his mom.

Broken because his heart felt like it had shattered into a million pieces. His heart was broken. He was broken.

Of the contents Ina managed to save, there were a few pieces of clothing, a picture of them, his journal, their coinsaver, and a pocket watch.

Cole was devastated. He didn't know how to move, didn't know how to think and he could much less feel. There was no funeral or proper burial. Cole acknowledged his loss and said a proper goodbye to his mom before he set off looking for a new place to live.

Gathering his things, he took one last look at the place he had once called home. Memories of them flooded his mind, almost triggering a downpour of tears, but Cole resisted the force. He knew if he started to cry, he may never finish. He knew he would never forget Miss Ina and he knew how much she loved him. He glanced down at the journal, slightly flipping thumbing his finger over the cover. He started his walk and flipped to the first page discovering that Ina had left him a sweet message to start off his recordings in his journals.

A tear stained the page. He couldn't stop the tear when he read : "I love you, happy birthday" in the middle of the first page.

He fought himself because he wanted to turn around. Turn around to see if it was real. But reality hurts and he knew if he turned around, he'd be more hurt. Accepting his pain, he trudged along, remembering Ina every second of the day, more than occasionally stopping to read the note.