03 - Wished upon…something else instead

(Still Kaan's POV)

“Sir?”

With an impatient sigh, I motion for her to come in and then I hand her the pack of documents I was supposed to be working on before my mother completely derailed my focus. “Cancel my 4:30 meeting, please. I'll work on these when I get back. I'm not in the mood right now,” I mutter darkly.

Melissa's eyes widen in shock. “But, sir, this meeting is—”

“...is where I'll be firing people left and right or ruining this company if I don't get a breather from everyone right now. So, be a good girl and call Elijah. Tell him to prepare everything I need because I'm going up in the sky tonight. And don’t you tell my mother about it. If she comes back here again looking for me, just tell her something important came up,” I say, considering paragliding instead of skydiving but dismissing the idea quickly. The wind conditions may not be alright these days. It would be too risky today and while I’m brave, I’m not an idiot.

“Yes, sir, of course. Right away, sir.”

I rub my face tiredly with my hands before standing up and grabbing my jacket, already feeling restless. I look around the office, feeling as if the walls are literally closing in on me. I rush out of the door, not even bothering to take anything else with me.

“Tell Elijah I’ll be at the nearby park, the one near the bank. I’ll be waiting for him there,” I tell Melissa, who is frantically trying to call all the participants in the meeting that was supposed to be happening in just half an hour. I have to remember to give the girl a raise. I know it’s not easy to work for a temperamental man like me.

I need to avoid running into my mother, who I'm certain is still in the building so I opt for the fire exit and hurry down the stairs. As I step out of the building into the open air, I let out a sigh of relief. Checking my watch, I see that I have ample time to unwind and centre myself before the night jump. With a relaxed pace, I head to a nearby park where I spot an empty bench overlooking a serene pond. Pink lotus flowers are in full bloom, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. I sit down, taking in the serene beauty around me and mentally preparing myself for the exhilarating experience to come. I'm so lost in thought that I don't realise how long I've been waiting until somebody clears their throat to get my attention. It's my personal secretary, Elijah.

“Sir? You must have left your phone in the office. I have been trying to call you for a bit now. We're ready for you.”

Now, this might be an act of rebellion but I can already feel my mood getting better as I follow my secretary to the car parked nearby. I'm very much looking forward to the magnificent view of the bejewelled night sky surrounding me like velvet ink during the night jump. Soon enough, I'm standing on the edge of the plane, all geared up and ready. I've done this many times before, but every time I stand at that point, I cannot help but feel the thrill of the moment and relish the rush of powerful emotions. As I look down, I can see the lights of the city farther away, the hustle and bustle of life as I know it. I easily ignore it, my attention now focused on the enchanting night sky around me. The stars shine like diamonds against a backdrop of midnight blue, and I feel a sense of peace wash over me. The air is cold, but I'm bundled up in my jumpsuit and gear. I take a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

With a nod and thumbs up from my instructor, I jump off the plane, feeling the rush of the wind against my face. The freefall is intense, but I love every moment of it. As I fall, I look around me and see the stars twinkling above me, each one seeming to call out to me. I can almost imagine myself reaching out and gathering those sparkling gems with my own hands. Chuckling to myself, I imagine catching a falling star and putting it in my pocket, just like in a popular song.

If stars grant wishes, I would be set for life.

As I finally open my parachute and my descent slows down, I see a very bright star that I know is not really a star, but the planet Venus, only masquerading as one. 

Venus. The goddess of love. Hmm… Maybe…

“I wish finding the love of my life isn’t so complicated and difficult.” I fervently pray to whoever is granting wishes out there. Silently, of course. I know my radio connection is on and if somebody else hears me wishing upon a star — or rather a planet, I would die of embarrassment or be even more of a recluse. Which is pretty much the same in my parents’ vocabulary.

I sigh, scanning my landing zone, but as I glance down, I see something peculiar with my heightened senses. A young woman standing near a car in the middle of nowhere, several hundred metres away from my designated safe landing point. Even from where I currently am, I can clearly see her upturned face and clasped hands as if lost in prayer, chanting something that sounds suspiciously like a nursery rhyme. The night wind carries the words she is currently reciting out loud and as I get closer, I can hear them more clearly.

The young woman is indeed reciting the old nursery rhyme formula that children usually use to make a wish on the first star they see at night.

"Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, Have my wish come true tonight."

The young woman looks so serious, so dedicated upon making her wish and I briefly wonder what she could possibly be wishing for so fervently, her eyes closed and her eyebrows meeting in concentration. Perhaps it is something deeply personal, like his wish, something she has been longing for a long time now. Or maybe it's something simple, like to be anywhere else but where she is at the moment.

I almost chuckle as I stare at her in amazement, thinking… there’s a kindred spirit, wishing upon a star. Whatever it is, for some strange reason I can't help but feel a sense of connection with her as I listen to her muttering about something I can’t really make sense of. Something about a coma and a break. But not really.

Just then, and so suddenly no one could have foreseen it, an incredibly powerful gust of cold wind pushes me away from my drop zone, towards the woman who is still busy talking to a ball of gas that is light years away from earth.

“Oh, no, oh f*ck!” I mutter before shouting, “Hey lady, get out of the way!”