My wet shoes squelched as I trudged through the damp woods, taking a short cut from school. My floral shirt and short jean shorts were dry, thanks to my recently-made-ex boyfriends sports jacket. But my waist length fiery red hair clung heavily because of the pouring rain. Except the top of my head. I wore my schools mascot baseball cap.
Realizing this, I snatched the cap and tossed it to the side without missing a step. Next I jerked my way out of my ex-Joe's coat and slammed it to the ground. With tears clouding my vision and streaming my mascara down my face, I jumped on the coat repeatedly while screaming, "I HATE YOU JOE!!"
"YOUR STUPID FACE CAN GO TO HELL!!"
"TAKE FRAN WITH YOU WHERE YOU WILL SUFFER!!"
I sobbed ugly for a few minutes there. Occasionally grinding the coat into the ground while I tried to block out the image of the two sucking major face in the girls locker room. I pushed my wet hair back, wiped at my eyes so I could see, and right in front of me, just a few meters away, I saw a well. It looked like it came from the renaissance age with its rugged grey bricks and moss overgrowth. In the rain, the water trickled over the edge and pooled around it. To me, it seemed like some kind of sign, telling me to wish for something better.
I rushed to the well, heart slightly warming at the idea of a new life. "Oh sweet well from the gods, you have come to my rescue." I looked down at the well with new hope when I saw an engraving on the rim of the well.
One Wish Alone
One Payment Required
Whether to Atone
Or Obtain What's Desired
I jerked my hands in my shorts pockets for a coin and got nothing. I begrudgingly stomped to grab the tarnished jacket from the ground and searched. Again nothing.
"Even your dumb jacket is useless!!"
Pouting for a moment, I squished my head with my hands to conjure up an idea that would help me pay for a wish. Then I remembered. Shakily, I pulled a necklace out from under my shirt. It was fourteen karat gold with a single diamond that hung from it. It was the gift Joe had given me when he asked if we could go steady. My eyes watered at the memory of his crystal blue eyes and golden brown hair. He smiled at me with that perfect smile… I've kept it on for the full two years we were dating, I hardly noticed I'm wearing it. It became a part of me.
I held the necklace over the well, watched it sway for a moment before I dropped it into the well. I watched as the treasure sank into the dark abyss, tears streaming from my eyes again, I asked in a trembling voice, "Please, make me happy again."
I sank onto the rim of the well and wept quietly. The rain came to a stop and clouds began to disperse. A light trickle of sunshine fell on me and I wiped my tears once again and misplaced my hand on the rim of the well and fell forward. I caught myself with my other hand, but I couldn't pull my arm that had sunk in the water.
"WHAT'S GOING ON??!! WHY CANT I FREE MYSELF??!!"
I pulled hard, but my arm wouldn't come up an inch and then a gust of wind from out of no where shoved me forward and I was pulled down in a rush. As I was rushing through the water, a deep voice rang through my mind.
"Your payment is generous and found worthy of your wish. Enjoy your new life."