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The Wishing Tree (1): In Town Square, there is a beautiful tree with spreading branches. It is tall, but the lowest branches are easily reached. The city has decorated the tree with small, starlike ornaments and glistening lights. Thick leaves and beautiful purple flowers dangle from the branches, along with a myriad of different colored papers with handwritten wishes. Next to the tree is a stack of blank paper with twine attached, and a handwritten sign that explains:
Write your wish on a sheet of paper and tie it to the tree. Take one wish off the tree and do your best to grant it. When you have granted the wish, bury the paper in the park.
The papers are biodegradable and filled with seeds. There are no rules for wishing, but you are encouraged to wish for something vague enough that it can be interpreted in many ways so that it can be granted; you do not write your name on it, but it is encouraged to write something that doesn’t wish for self gain, but rather something that can make the world a better place. Some wishes dangling from the tree already include things like “I wish there wasn’t so much litter in the park,” “I wish someone would clean the graffiti off the old historic buildings,” and “I wish there were more volunteers at the shelter.”
If you choose to use the Wishing Tree, what do you wish for? If your wish is private, you may write it on the paper and choose a spot in the park and bury it yourself instead of hanging it on the tree.
Today, so far, had not been going as planned. Her sister was supposed to have arrived over an hour ago and according to the most recent text she was apparently stuck in traffic. At this point, it felt like it would be a good idea to just go ahead and head home.
After her encounter with Fionan several minutes ago today just felt too surreal. How many months had gone by since they last bumped into each other? Eight? Ten almost? Honestly, she had stopped counting. Just when she felt like she had finally found it within herself to finally move on and accept that she had let go of one of the few good things in her life, he showed up again.
Perhaps it was just fate being cruel to her or maybe someone else had a hand in these chance encounters.
Breanna could even be the one pulling these strings here; it would be a very her thing to do and it did seem kind of ironic that she wasn’t here at the festival when it happened… again. But Fiona had to believe her twin wouldn’t be so mean as to open old wounds or try to force them together unless she had spoken to her former boyfriend somewhat recently. However, the expression on his face, made her believe that he was not privy to what was going on either and that this simply was just a coincidence.
Before they had been separated he had invited her to go to the flower shop with him however, with the area that they were in, there were three nearby that she could think of. None of which she wanted to go walk to in the event that his offer was simply a kind gesture and not something he truly wanted her to follow through on.
Fiona drew in a deep breath and sighed.
Why did relationships, or feelings in general, have to be so complicated? Fionan was a sweet guy, and yes they were high school sweethearts but in truth, any girl would be lucky to be with him. From what she remembered, he was kind and considerate; two qualities she truly hoped he didn’t lose when she had broken up with him.
As she wandered through the streets Fiona found herself in the middle of Town Square and in the center was a beautiful tree covered with small, starlike ornaments. There were men, women and children huddled beneath the low hanging limbs each tying what appeared to be a small piece of paper to the branches.
Curiosity nipped at her heels prompting her to go see what the commotion was about.
Next to the tree was a small stand with a stack of blank paper and twine attached. Beside it was a handwritten sign with simple instructions to write a wish on one piece of paper and tie it to the tree. Before leaving she should remove one of someone else wishes and try her best to grant it. Upon success, bury the piece of paper somewhere in the park. It seemed simple enough but the wish she had in mind was not one that someone else could easily grant for her or anyone else.
“I wonder if it is ok to just plant it myself…” She wondered. Looking down at the small blank stack of paper Fiona picked up one of the pencils and wrote a single word.
Courage.
The one thing she was truly lacking. Courage to go find Fionan, to speak with him, to explain why she had walked away. It was not an easy decision for her to make but it was the only one she knew that would keep him safe. He would always be her first love and a part of her wished that things between them had never changed. All she really needed was the Courage to talk to him and tell him the real reason why.
Knowing that this was not something anyone else could really help with, rather than hanging her wish on the tree she decided that she would in due time grant her own wish and for now bury it herself somewhere in the park.
