Chapter 2: The Wish

Rica carefully clambered down a big rock. Fortunately, she had hiked this place a year ago so she had a wealth of information about what she needed to do to stay safe in that particular location. She was panting heavily when she reached the bottom so she steadied herself with her hands on her knees for a moment to take a breather. She pulled out a soft white towel on her pocket and wiped her face soaked with sweat.

After a short break, she carried on walking down the track when she suddenly noticed a little  bird trying to break free from the branches clinging to one of its teeny-weeny legs. She drew herself nearer to it.

"What a very beautiful bird!," she exclaimed, astonished by the little creature in front of her. It had bright red feathers and a long wavy red and black tail. Its little eyes were staring at her, pleading for help as it wished to escape from the branches' firm grasp. She at last freed it from them and watched it hurriedly flew away, up in the air, away from her.

As she continued to descend, she took notice of an old woman by a tall pine tree. She was smiling sweetly as it looked at her coming towards her. She grinned back. She seemed to be the intent of the old woman.

"Oh Granny, what are you doing in this place? Do you live around here?” she asked after approaching her. She looked around with her eyes but she couldn't see a single house.

"You are burdened with great sorrow and grief, child. What is your kindle heart’s desire?”

Rica was shocked by the words she heard so she could not answer immediately.

The old woman grinned from ear to ear and handed her a red flower. "Eat it, my child. On your journey down, you will find a spring. This spring will fulfill your request. One request."

She was unaware of what happened next. The old woman was no longer in front of her and the flower vanished in her palm.

Rica was left speechless. She checked her palm again; the red flower was gone indeed. She also tried to find the old woman who gave it to her but she disappeared completely.

"That's strange!" she told herself trying to think of what just happened. She shook her head. She still couldn't believe it. "I must be really tired I’m starting to see things," she whispered to herself.

Meanwhile…

“Where the hell have you been?”

George sighed and stared at the woman waiting for him in his living room. “What are you doing here? I thought I made it clear that you should stop coming here. Please, just for now. We have to be patient.”

The woman just shrugged her shoulders. She took a napkin out of her bag and began to polish the wineglass she was holding. She made sure not to leave any fingerprints on the bowl of the glass. “You know I can’t do that, right? This body misses you a lot.”

She walked towards him and put her lips against his.

“If you’re afraid to do it here, you know where to find me,” she winked at him. “Room 20... ”

Before she could finish, George had already held her by her waist and pinned her to his body kissing her hard. He carried her into his room and closed the door.

****************************************************************************

Rica continued to walk down the path. She reached for her smartphone in her back pocket. She had to call her best friend.

"Oh no, this can't be happening. No signal!" she exclaimed. She put her smartphone back in her pocket and opened her small backpack to grab a bottle of fresh water. She leaned her head back and drank. Her body enjoyed the cool water’s healing power. She wanted to rest for a while but she had to hurry because Melanie was definitely waiting for her. Also, she did not want to walk in the dark on her way down the mountain.

She thought of his ex-boyfriend. She couldn’t believe he had really left her. Worst, he left her by herself in the middle of the mountain.

"That jerk! What did I do to deserve all of these? I just wanted to save our relationship. I needed to do everything I could to at least protect " US." Turned out, I was the only one left holding on. He had already left me way before he broke up with me today. I can't believe he left me for that pathetic girl. That girl! What a bitch!" she murmured while walking down the grassy path. She bit her lip to hold back her tears. “Oh, get a grip, Rica!”

Her feet stopped moving when she saw a spring. A sudden wind swept across her. The spring was surrounded by the most beautiful flowers imaginable. They seemed to glisten with the blue water that sparkled from the spring. All kinds of butterflies were flying around it. She made her way to it. Its beauty was captivating.

She was shocked to see one of the flowers up close. The red flower! The flower the woman had given her.

She suddenly recalled what the old woman had told her before she disappeared. “Is this the fountain? The fountain that will fulfill the desire of my heart?” She asked herself. She thought of what to wish. Then, she laughed at herself silly. In this day and age, who would believe in the fulfillment of a spring wish?

She stood up and walked quickly down the path when a bird suddenly flew in front of her. She was surprised to see the bird. It looked familiar. She gave a little gasp. It was the bird she had just helped! It flew towards the spring, circling the water.

She walked back to the spring and watched the bird as it played on the face of the water. The water was so clear her reflection seemed to be in a mirror. She saw the reflections of the clouds on the water.

Then she noticed something else.

In her reflection, she saw a red flower in her hand. The flower the old woman gave her!

She held her hand, with a bewildered look on her face. Scared to know what was actually happening. She reached for it. She could feel it in her palm. It was real.

Not long after, a small bird, the one she rescued earlier, rested on her left shoulder. It began to sing. It sang sweetly and beautifully giving peace to her mind.

She closed her eyes and made a wish. “One wish,” she whispered. “A love that will last forever.”