Danaelya was still out with her mom, shopping even late at night. Her mom suggested earlier when she went home that they run last-minute shopping, literally. The malls were close to closing when they arrived and she can tell that the staff are not completely fine with it but of course they wouldn't say anything.
As she was changing into her nth outfit, cause she can't remember how many outfits she has gone through for the night, she felt something sticking on her back. She pulled it out and saw a glowing paper. Her eyebrows furrowed and she suddenly remembered the weird saleslady from back there. Who has been giving her weird distant looks. That was the same saleslady who gave her this dress.
A knock came on the door. Then her mom's voice came through. "Darling, are you done?"
"Y-yes," she stutters, in awe with the paper in her hand.
"Well?" That snapped her awake.
"It's okay," she shouts.
"Okay? Okay as in let's buy it? Or okay as in it's okay but maybe next time?"
"The latter part." The dress is cute but she was distracted and she doesn't really think that anymore dresses are necessary. She hardly has enough room.
"Okay. But lemme take a look first." She sighs. In the end, they still bought the dress.
Once they were inside their car, she was still holding the same paper. Running her thumb along the smooth surface.
"What's that?" She hears her mother ask. She quickly shoves it aside and just continues to lean her head on the window, exhausted.
"Nothing," she answers. "Just some...trash that I've found."
"Well, the trash belongs to the trash can so if you may…"
"Yeah..but maybe later," she says quietly.
Faye was burying herself in her books when a folded paper fell from one of the books she borrowed from the library. She grasped it and studied it under the light. She was mesmerized by it.
It was glowing in her hand and sparks were coming from it like fire. It seemed so magical and unreal.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Amara was not even close to being wasted when she excused herself from her group. Stupid party. Stupid people. Stupid self. Stupid life.
She went to the bathroom and looked at the person before her. She hardly recognized herself. A door opened from one of the cubicles and a girl got out, still wiping her mouth from vomit. The girl staggered from side to side and Amara waited until she was out of sight before facing herself again in the mirror.
But something caught her eye on the floor. A glowing paper was lying there. She picked it up and went out of the bathroom, in an attempt to chase the girl who might've dropped it. But she can't find her anymore.
She went back in, looked at her reflection and the paper in her hand, thinking gosh, is this really my life? Just how fucked up can it be?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Reagan was drying her hair when she saw the paper again, on her table. She lifted it to her eyes. She doesn't know why or what made her do it but she just started wishing.
"To all gods, fairies, and creatures unknown who can grant wishes. May you hear my unspoken pain and accept my cry of plea. Please, I just want my family back again with me."
She opened her eyes, she didn't even realize she closed them, and looked around her room. As if, magically, her parents would reappear and tell her that it was all just a nightmare. But nothing happened, so she sighed heavily and went to bed. Not knowing that she was heard.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
It started raining and they were stuck in traffic and with her mom talking about sleeping early to avoid pimples and that she should take her diet seriously because she started gaining weight, Danaelya could only tune everything out.
With the paper still in her hand, she began to wish, not knowing why. "To all gods, fairies, and creatures unknown who can grant wishes. May you hear my unspoken pain and accept my cry of plea. Please, I just want to be loved and accept the real me."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Amara is still staring in the mirror after some time, knowing that there isn't a single person who's looking for her. She held the paper to her chest and began whispering, "To all gods, fairies, and creatures unknown who can grant wishes. May you hear my unspoken pain and accept my cry of plea. Please, I just want to feel the warmth of home." She chokes on her last word, tears flowing unbidden.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Faye brought the paper to her lips and stared at the ceiling, hoping to see stars and not an empty space mirroring her feelings. "To all gods, fairies, and creatures unknown who can grant wishes. May you hear my unspoken pain and accept my cry of plea. Please, I just want them to be proud of me."
Born in the same world, with different presents, different cries and different pleas but all tied with similar wishes. Will their wishes grant what their hearts want? Or will their wishes make them realize that wishes aren't what they're supposed to be?