11:11
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Kelly, a seven-year-old, dressed in pink pyjamas, stared at the small clock in her room with praying hands and an impatient gaze.
Behind her on the wall, a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner hung alongside balloons and wrapped gifts but her eyes remained focused on the second’s hand. As soon as the clock struck 11:11, she closed her eyes and made a wish – “I wish for a puppy.”
She opened her eyes, excitedly looking around, but her smile disappeared at finding the room empty, with not a bark in sound. She fell asleep with a sad pout.
But the next morning, to her amazement, a stray found its way to her doorstep and into her arms. From that day on, she was convinced of magic and the power of her wishes.
Every year, on the night of her birthday, she’d close her eyes and make a wish at exactly 11:11. It started innocently at first – “Tell me the answers to tomorrow’s test”, “Make me popular at school”, “Jack should ask me out on a date” – and with every wish, she failed to see the repercussions her undeserving victories brought.
On her seventeenth birthday, she wished she’d get into the best college without even studying. The letter came a few months later, congratulating her on her acceptance. The magic consumed her; she felt more confident and invincible as the days passed. She could rule the whole world if she wanted.
She couldn’t believe her luck but that’s the thing about luck – it eventually runs out.
On her nineteenth birthday when she was fired from yet another temp job, she was frustrated, furious, and vengeful. She waited impatiently for her birthday and then made a wish at 11:11, “Make me very rich so I can enjoy my life.”
The next morning, she woke up to learn that she had won the lottery. She partied for days, splurged on the most unnecessary and lavish of things, and treated everyone like she was better than them.
But with this wealth and egoistic nature came envy and loss of friends. One evening, her house was robbed and none of her friends supported her. She was all alone.
She realised that while she had her wishes, she didn’t have anything or anyone else. Her mind slowly cleared and she thought back to also those years and all those wishes. She became popular but was known for her tyranny. Jack asked her out but then broke her heart after a year.
She started to see that the universe was not a genie granting her every whim; it was a balancing act and for every action, there was a dangerous consequence.
As another birthday came, Kelly made a silent vow: No more wishes, no more shortcuts. From now on, she would forge her own path through hard work and perseverance.
And so, as the clock struck 11:12, she still had her eyes open and not a wish in her mind.
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