Wishes

Clarissa

Time.

How much time had passed since I went to the surface? Since I left the confines of this area? To actually feel and breathe in the fresh air?

I laid on my bed and stared at the golden ceiling.

The walls were covered with an array of musty old drapes depicting medieval fight scenes from a bygone era that I still remember from my last summoning. A small ball of light illuminated the large room.

“Louis, how much do you think the outside world has changed?” I sighed wistfully to my large green dragon. He’s the only thing I had as a companion and he had heard me ask the same question a million times in our thousands of years together. I’ve always had Louis, he’s been here with me since I was only small. He was my family and best friend.

I sat up and lightly placed my head on the side of the lamp.

I was created inside this lamp and contained for who knows how long. I was created by the universe a millennia ago, with a purpose to grant wishes to the helpless, to serve and protect others. Throughout the centuries, I have just done that. I have saved many lives, protected villages and healed the sick or wounded.

But there were also times where my magic was used for power, greed controlling man’s thirst for power. I have caused wars, harmed, and killed many. I lived with this guilt, the blood on my hands served as a purpose to fight, to always protect the innocent.

But I can’t do that if I was stuck here.

I had no idea how old I was at this point in my lifetime. I didn’t know what year or day was. Inside the lamp, night and day were one and the same. You don’t notice days, weeks or even years passing when you’re stuck in a lamp all your life.

Louis huffed and cuddled back into my sheets. Lazy reptile. He better not burn my sheets. The lamp will smell like smoke for a week. At least that’s what it felt like. There was a time when I used to count the days until I met my next master, but after a while, it did not seem worth keeping track.

I laid next to him, contemplating as I caressed his scales. It always seems to go back to time.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been out. I wanted to see the outside world again. I loved exploring the outside of my lamp. I could explore and see the new advancements in that era. The world looks different each time. It’s fascinating to see.

Last time I was free from my confinement, people were just starting to use a new weaponry...guns I believed they were called. I didn’t necessarily know what they did, but I knew they could cause casualties. Have they advanced since then? Are guns still being used today?

Groaning at my curious thoughts, I bang my fist against the cool metal in frustration.

Louis and I were becoming restless - well more myself than him. We just wanted to be free. But of course, that’s never going to happen without a new master to rub my lamp. We tried to escape once, after that we refused to try again.

We tried to break out through the top. Louis shoved himself against it, but all we achieved was obtaining an injured and angry dragon.

I closed my eyes and allowed myself to go into a deep slumber, dreaming of the outside world. The warmth of the sun; the feeling of the breeze; the freedom of the outside world.

Nate

“Nathaniel!” Destiny whined. I rolled my eyes at my girlfriend. She was always complaining.

Has she always been like this?

“Yes?” I asked trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. Destiny narrowed her blue eyes at me.

“You weren’t paying attention to me! Were you or were you not flirting with that dumb brunette over there?” Destiny snapped and pointed a sharp manicured nail down the hall.

I looked over at the girl she mentioned. I furrowed my eyebrows before recognition kicked in. It was a girl that I sat next to in my English class. I asked her a question about the homework for next week.

“Destiny, calm down. I only asked her about the homework assignme-” I was cut off by her continuous rant.

“Sure Nate, the ‘homework assignment’. I’m not stupid. Who do you take me for, a fool?” Destiny sneered.

Yes. I really think she was stupid and a fool if she didn’t understand my sentence before she cut me off.

“Hello! Are you listening to me?! Stop looking at those other girls. I will make that bitch pay for flirting with you, but you need to devote your attention to me and be more affectionate. If we want to win prom king and queen, everyone needs to adore us!” Destiny shrieked. I don’t really understand why this is so important to her.

I rolled my eyes mentally. I couldn’t give a shit about being prom king. The last thing I needed was to go on a stage with a plastic crown on my head and her clinging onto me.

Screw this.

I walked away from Destiny and I don’t bother to look back. I heard her call my name, but I ignored it and went home. I know she’ll probably just stand and shriek like a child lost in a mall.

When I got home, I crashed onto my bed, trying to get rid of the headache Destiny caused.

I took a deep breath, trying to gain my composure. I didn’t need my mom to see me like this. When I calmed down, I got up and walk to my parent’s room.

I saw my mom laying in bed, reading a book. I smiled softly at her and sat at the foot of the bed. I sank slightly into the mattress and sighed quietly.

My mom had stage three lung cancer. Currently, she is undergoing treatments, but it isn’t taking effect. My eyes stung at the thought but I refused to let her see how I was feeling. She already had enough on her shoulders. I just wanted her to be healthy again. To be my happy mom again.

My dad was taking this hard. He had to work more to pay for the medical bills, so he’s rarely home and if he was, he goes straight to bed. I wanted to drop out of school to help with the money, but my dad told me getting an education was important. So I reluctantly agreed.

It’s just me and my parents. No siblings besides my best friends, Tyler and Zach. They practically lived here most of the time and were brothers to me. I would be in a worse place if it weren’t for them.

My mom looked over at me and smiled, placing the book on her lap. Even at her worst state, she always had a warm smile on her face. It’s more than I could muster.

“Welcome home, Honey. How was school today?” She croaked, her voice scratchy. I tried not to flinch and act natural. My mum deserved to be treated with respect, not to be treated like a doll. I knew she hated it when people gave her any signs of pity.

“It was okay, I guess. Destiny and I had a fight again.” I muttered.

My mom frowned. Mom didn’t like Destiny that much but she never said anything drastically against her because she didn’t want to upset me.

“I’m sorry honey. I hope everything goes well in the future.” Mom tried to say convincingly with a forced smile.

I snorted and grinned at her.

“No, you don’t.”

It was her turn to give me a real smile.

“Okay, you caught me. Nathaniel, I don’t want you wasting your time with those types of girls that aren’t taking your best interests to heart. You should meet a sweet young girl. Someone to keep on your toes. Besides, you don’t even seem to like the girl!”

“Destiny stomps on my feet a lot. Does that count for something?” I said, making a small joke.

My mom laughed and shook her head.

We talked for about an hour before my mom needed to rest. I kissed her forehead and walked out the door.

I did my homework in my room while texting Tyler and Zach. I invited them over and eventually they came over for some video games.

“So how’s it goin’ with you and Destiny?” Tyler asked as he rapidly moved with his controller.

I snorted in response then groaned when my player got shot.

“That bad? I could have told you that much.” Tyler laughed.

“As much as Destiny is annoying, she is very...physical,” I ignore the disapproving sounds my friends make. They didn’t approve of my “relationship” with Destiny. “You know how it works for me, Tyler. I just need to get all my stress out of my system. I refuse to have a player reputation in our school and Destiny seemed like the right option.” I responded.

“A stupid option,” Tyler muttered.

Seeing the look on my face, Tyler sighed and nodded his head. Our conversation was cut off by Zach’s battle cry.

“Die! All of you little fu-”

“No cursing in this house Zach!” my mom shouted down the hallway. Tyler and I snickered at Zach, who pouted.

After a few rounds, we decided to watch a movie. As we were watching the movie, I thought about how much my life is spiraling.

With Destiny and Mom, how was I going to manage to stay sane?

I needed a miracle for that to happen.

___

I woke up to the smell of bacon. My mouth starting to water, I jumped out of bed and rushed down the stairs.

I met my dad in the kitchen and stole a piece of bacon on his plate.

“Morning Dad,” I said munching on the bacon. I loved days like this, where I could wake up and see my dad before he left for work.

Dad grumbled a good morning and something smelling. He gave me a small smile. I knew how tired he was and always appreciated spending time with someone besides people from work.

After we talked for a little bit, I walked to my room to get ready. I put on a black t-shirt and jeans with my worn out converse.

I headed outside and walked into Zach’s house, who lived across the street. I walked in without knocking and to his room. I found him on his couch watching TV.

“Hey man, what’s up?” I asked. I took a seat on his couch. He nodded his head in acknowledgment, not at all surprised at my appearance. We walk into each other’s houses all the time.

Zach groaned and rubbed his face.

“Mom is making me take Lizzie to some magic shop for her birthday. Wanna tag along?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Magic shop? Seriously? No.” I said with clear disgust.

Why would anyone want to go to some magic shop? They’re all just cheap tricks sold at extortionate prices.

“Please? I’ll owe you a favor.” Zach pleaded desperately.

A favor? I smirked. I’m going to hold him to that.

“Alright, I’ll tag along on this magical journey. Maybe we can see a rabbit come out of a hat or some shit,” I said sarcastically, only agreeing because of his promise.

Zach smiled and jumped up.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s get this shit over with.”