A Wish So Deadly

I’m sprinting as fast as I can, until my chest is on fire and a crippling stitch embeds itself into my side.

The winding cobblestone path is narrow and uneven, guiding me on a steep descent into the valley. Past the sprawling fields of wildflowers, past the pale stone cottages to the fringes of the forest, where a handful of smaller houses huddle together, their moss-covered roofs sagging with age.

On a better day, the little house Elara and I share would be bathed in warm, golden sunlight, but today, as I approach with bated breath, there’s an unsettling chill surrounding the place and the sky is ominously overcast.

Worry cinches around my heart, squeezing until it feels like a pair of strong hands are pressing down on my chest, harder with each breath.