Make A Wish

Did you know that the sky used to be purple and the moon was pink?

It was a brilliant sight made enchanting by the cluster of stars. White and yellow stars were used to tell stories. They helped guide the way back home, and what season it was going to be. Shooting stars would dance across the elderberry void, and many would make wishes on them.

Legend says that if you caught the star you wished upon, your wish would come true.

The trill of electronic bells screamed outward. It echoed off plaster walls and mosaic windows. The trill woke the inhabitant who was curled under a heavy, colorful, quilted blanket.

From under the shades of faded purples and pinks, a deep golden hand reached out. Gently, they pressed down on the metallic alarm clock that woke them up.

A tired sigh leaked out of the opening the hand had made, followed by the lump under the blanket stretching out. Their body popped from certain joints, a satisfied groan left their lips.

With a final, satisfied, sigh, they threw their blanket off. Sitting up in bed, their pink coiled hair bounced with their movement. Rubbing at their yellow eyes, the last of sleep left them.

“Another day,” they sighed.

Climbing out of bed and making their way to the kitchen, they grabbed their phone on the way. Seeing a missed voice message, they opened that first.

“Hey Crow, thank you for the cake you got me. You have to show me how you made it, it was so good.”

The bubbly voice on the other end made Crow smile.

“Sorry Mirai, family recipe, it dies with me,” Crow sent their own voice message back.

Before Crow could start making their coffee, a new message from Mirai appeared. When Crow opened it, they chuckled when it was just the sound of Mirai blowing raspberries at them.

“If I bring you beignets, will you forgive me?” Crow texted.

Their answer was a barrage of hearts in a text message.

Rolling their eyes, Crow looked at the time and hummed. Thinking about whether their coffee would be done by the time they got back.

“I’m good,” Crow said.

Starting their coffee machine, Crow made their way back to their room. Opening their walk-in closet, Crow hummed as they looked over their clothes. Keeping their eyes on the flags separating the clothes.

50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, 10’s, 20’s, 30’s, and many more.

Stopping at the 70s, Crow looked over the minimal clothing options they had.

“What was the weather like at this time?” Crow asked themselves before answering, “I think it was a breezy day.” 

Grabbing a tan and red plaid pantsuit with bell-bottom legs and a red vest, Crow changed out of their pajamas and into the day outfit. Tucking their hair into a, red, rib-knit cap, Crow made sure none of their pink hair was poking out. Once satisfied, they grabbed a pair of round, tortoise-shell-framed sunglasses. The tan lenses hid their yellow eyes perfectly. After slipping on brown platform loafers, Crow looked over themselves in their full-length mirror.

They pouted a little when they saw that none of their pink hair would be seen and how it was impossible to tell their eye color.

“Stupid star,” Crow mumbled.

Checking the time on their phone, Crow hummed.

“They should be open now,” Crow decided.

Setting their phone down, Crow tucked their hands into their pockets and closed their eyes. Reaching deep inside themselves, Crow felt a swirl inside their chest. It spun around lazily at first and upon hearing Crow’s call, it slowly turned faster. The faster it spun, the more it expanded. It grew until it reached every cell in Crow’s body.

Breathing in deeply, their chest expanded, allowing more of the cosmic energy to grow. Feeling like their chest was about to explode, Crow let out their breath and opened their, now glowing, eyes.

What looked like starlight dust drifted out of Crow’s breath and circled them, covering them in a magical shimmer. When Crow was out of breath, the stardust fell, and Crow saw themselves no longer standing in their closet, but in an empty, dust-covered room. Boards on the windows barely blocked the humid heat rolling in. 

Not wasting any time, Crow made their way out of the room. Being careful when taking the creaky stairs down, they avoided any cobwebs that could catch on their hat. Walking the abandoned halls, Crow hummed as they strolled. Their song followed behind them until it disappeared into nothing when Crow stepped outside.

The humid air was far more intense on the outside, but smelled much better compared to the den Crow had just been in. Taking a left on the sidewalk, Crow followed the path that led them to the open city. 

People started milling about far before any roadsters could occupy the street.

Looking this way and that way, Crow made sure the streets were safe before crossing. Skipping up to the brick-and-mortar building with an attached patio that was protected by a white metal gate, Crow enjoyed the sound of the bell announcing their arrival.

“Mornin’! Welcome in!” a voice called from the kitchen, “Be right with you!”

“Take your time,” Crow responded.

Walking up to the pastry case, Crow looked over the fresh croissants, muffins, cookies, and beignets. When their eyes landed on the beignets, a fresh tray of them was slid into the case.

Looking up, Crow smiled at the woman behind the counter. Her golden-dark face was littered with white freckles on the bridge of her nose. Her hair was pulled back and kept safe under a violet bandana, tan, thick-rimmed glasses covered her eyes. The yellow dress with the lavender apron around her waist fit her pear-shaped body perfectly.

“What can I get for you baby?” the woman asked.

“A basket of beignets to go please,” Crow answered.

“Sure thing,” the woman said with a nod.

Grabbing a paper bag, she began filling it with the fresh pastries.

“Honey?” the woman asked.

“Yes please,” Crow answered, “My girl loves it with honey.”

“Well aren’t you sweet,” the woman praised, “Getting up this early for her.”

“She’s worth every waking moment,” Crow hummed.

They looked around the small cafe, and even though they had been here many times, Crow never tired of the small business. Its yellow wallpaper walls were accented with purple fleurs de les, and on those walls were little white shelves decorated with miscellaneous knickknacks. 

There was no seating inside, it was for to-go orders only. However, if anyone waited just one more hour, a live band would be performing outside soon.

“Where’s Ziggy?” Crow asked.

“Oh, he retired a week ago,” the woman answered, “I took over for him, I’m a distant cousin of his.”

“Gonna miss that old man,” Crow muttered to themselves.

Walking up to the counter to pay, Crow asked, “What’s your name love?”

“Esmé, and yours?” Esmé asked.

As they were grabbing their order, Crow said, “Everyone calls me Crow.”

“What what was your wish?” Esmé’s question made Crow freeze.

Clutching the bag in their hand, Crow’s heart was beating so fast it was still. Their body was running hot and freezing cold at the same time.

Seeing the panic in Crow’s eyes, Esmé gave an assuring smile. Tipping her glasses down, Esmé revealed her yellow eyes.

It felt like a weight was lifted off their shoulders and Crow let out a sigh of relief.

“I wished: to be able to go to any time that I want,” Crow answered, “You?”

“Eternal youth,” Esmé chortled.

“So when you said Ziggy is a distant cousin?” Crow’s question trailed off into the air.

“He is my sister's great-great-great-great-great-grandchild,” Esmé explained, “It’s a secret we keep in the family.”

“Makes sense,” Crow chuckled.

Looking at the clock, Crow hissed through their teeth when they saw the time.

“Late to meet your girl?” Esmé asked.

When Crow nodded, she let out a hearty laugh and said, “Well, until we see each other again.”

“Until then,” Crow agreed.

Tipping their hat to Esmé, Crow quickly made their way out. The humid air warmed their skin instantly, and the knowledge that there was someone else like Crow put an extra pep in their step. 

Someone who knows how to make Mirai’s favorite dessert.

Excited to get to her, Crow began crossing the street. Not bothering to look for any cars, it was still early in the-

The sound of a horn blaring interrupted Crow’s thoughts. Before they could look, a feeling of being hit with a wall of metal struck Crow’s side. The force made Crow violently bend in the direction of the impact and start tumbling over a hard, bumpy hill. Their world spun, making them sick long before they could register the pain. Not until Crow landed harshly and their head bounced. Momentarily making them blind.

A horrified scream reminded Crow to breathe. Sucking in as deep as they could, a thick liquid rose making Crow cough. The thick liquid splattered across the asphalt in front of them.

That’s when the panic finally set in.

Gasping for air, every breath felt like a pellet rattling in a tin can. Each deep breath didn’t make its way past their lungs. Their eyes started welling up and burning with tears.

This can’t happen, they have to get back. They have to get back, Mirai is waiting for them.

“Crow, Crow!” they could hear Esmé but couldn’t see her, “Hold on baby! Help is on the way! Just hold on!”

The tears in Crow’s eyes finally started to fall. They couldn’t hold them back any longer.

“We’ll get you back home, I promise!” Esmé’s voice was starting to sound far away, “Where does your girl live? Tell me and I’ll go get her.”

“Not, where,” Crow gasped between each word, “When.”

As Crow lay in the road, growing colder by the second in the humidity. Back home, in their closet, next to the 20s clothes was Crow’s phone. Buzzing away with text messages and missed calls.