Magic Wishing Well

A short story based on the image shown
from a prompt from Writers Unite! – August 2023

A short story by Lynn Miclea

A fortune teller had described a wishing well to me when I was twelve, and now, twenty years later, I stood before it.

It had been just a silly game back then. My older sister had brought a fortune teller to her birthday party, and the woman, dressed from head to toe in shimmering royal blue with swirls of violet, gave readings to all of us. I still remember when she looked at me, peering deep into my eyes as though she saw my soul, and it gave me goosebumps. She clearly described the wishing well, and she said it was a magic well. She told me if I threw in a coin, I would have one wish granted.

At the time, I had laughed it off and went back to eating another piece of my sister’s birthday cake, and the incident had been quickly forgotten.

Now, twenty years later, I stood in front of the structure, staring wide-eyed at the exact wishing well that the fortune teller had described. It all came rushing back to me. I was to throw a coin into the well, and I would have one wish granted. Was it possible that she actually saw this and it was true?

I spun around, surveying the area around the cobblestone courtyard. It was empty—I was alone. My heart thudded in my chest, and fear and trepidation filled me. I had come to this village to get some time away from my cruel and abusive boyfriend, and also to have a chance to think about what to do next.

He was getting more and more abusive and violent, and I had had enough. I needed to find a way to end it and get away from him without causing him to blow up and retaliate or possibly even kill me. Fear gripped me and my left hand absently reached up and brushed my bruised cheek where he had hit me the day before. How could I leave him without enraging him and making things worse? I had no idea. I had come to this village to think it all over and try to work out what to do.

Maybe it didn’t matter how he would react. At this point, I was past caring. I knew I just needed to end it and get away from him.

Standing in front of the wishing well feeling weak, scared, and shaky, I figured I had nothing to lose. Maybe the fortune teller was right. This was my chance, and maybe it would help. It certainly couldn’t hurt. I fumbled in my purse for a coin, thought for several minutes, and held the coin tightly in my hand. Then I threw the coin into the well and spoke a few words of wanting him gone, wanting peace, and finding someone who was kind and gentle. I hoped the wish was good enough.

I knew my words were jumbled together, but at least I made my wish. That was all I could do. Now I had to trust this would work and hope for the best. Could the wishing well really grant me what I wanted? It seemed absurd.

Tears stung my eyes and I turned to leave. How could this possibly help? This was probably a waste of time. I still had to face him. I silently cursed the fortune teller for getting my hopes up. Nothing had changed. I still had to go back home and figure out how to get away from him.

I heard a ding and reached for my phone. Glancing at it, I saw it was a message from my boyfriend. My stomach was in knots, and I wanted to ignore it. I did not want to hear from him, and I did not want to deal with him, especially now. Then I thought maybe this was my chance. Maybe I should just get it over with. My fingers damp and quivering, I held up the phone and read his message.

You are not what I want and you’re not worth my time. We are through—I am breaking up with you. I will be gone by the time you get back. Don’t call me. We are done. I never want to see you again.

My breath caught in my throat and a wave of relief rushed through me. Was that for real? I read it again, slowly, to make sure. Yes. I knew he meant it. I was free. Had the wishing well really helped make that happen?

As I turned to leave, a young, good-looking man appeared out of nowhere and slowly approached me, a shy smile on his face. He gestured toward me. “Are you okay? You look lost.”

I hesitated. Where had this kind man come from? “I’m fine. I just made a wish …” I gestured at the wishing well. “And now I’m trying to make sense of things.”

He smiled and the smile lit up his eyes. “Well, this is definitely a magic well. It is legendary in this village.” His eyes sparkled. “In fact, I had made a wish here just this morning.”

“You did?” He seemed sweet, and it felt comfortable talking to him.

“Yes. Can I buy you a cup of coffee? Please? I believe you are part of what I wished for.”

I stared at this kind, handsome man. “I am?” I was a bit wary, but he seemed to be genuine.

“Yes, absolutely. I made a wish that is very important to me. And now I step outside and you are here, and it feels so right. Please. Let me buy you coffee and I will tell you about my wish.”

I felt my body relax and my heart begin to thaw. Somehow I knew I could trust him. “I’d like that,” I answered softly.

He reached for my hand, and the warmth of his hand sent a tingle up my arm as he led me to a small café on the corner.

Maybe things really had changed. I sent a silent thank-you to the fortune teller as I sat with this sweet man at a small table outside the café. His eyes twinkled and he radiated kindness as he looked at me with warmth.

“Yes,” he said as he gazed into my eyes. “I do believe you are what I wished for. There is a strong connection here. And I hope whatever you wished for comes true too. Maybe our wishes are intertwined.” He grinned and his face lit up. “This is a perfect time and place for a new beginning.”

I smiled as a wave of gratitude moved through me. I looked into this young man’s warm brown eyes, and I knew things had definitely shifted.

Whether or not the magic wishing well had anything to do with it, I had no idea. But somehow everything was now falling into place, and I knew I would be okay.

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Copyright © 2023 Lynn Miclea. All Rights Reserved.

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