Fortune's Twist

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Kara wasn’t expecting much when she sat on the rooftop with a Pilsner in her hand and two empty bottles at her feet, but that star lit up like it was just asking for a wish to be made. Didn’t most wishes go terribly wrong? That’s what all of the stories said. Be careful what you wish for.

Her beer broke a sweat in the late summer air, dripping water on her leg as she raised a toast to the sky. There was only one real hope in her heart, one that would cover anything else she could think of and more.

“I want a happy life.”

Almost like it heard her, the star sparked again before fading to match the dim glow of its neighbors. With a blink of her eyes, she could no longer remember which one she had seen. The next sip of beer let her know that the rest was too warm to drink, so she bid farewell to the night before heading inside.

Scott called the next day and told her they needed to talk. She said she would meet him for brunch before ending the call and cursing through the haze of mid-morning. So much for wishing on stars.

Her omelette was cold by the time it reached the table. A healthy dose of ketchup couldn’t cover the taste of undercooked mushrooms, and she pushed the soggy mess around her plate while she listened to Scott explain that while he wasn’t exactly breaking up with her, he was moving to Montana to manage the bank’s new branch in the region.

She set her fork down and folded her arms when she finally had a moment to speak. “Long distance relationships don’t work.”

“Then come with me.” She opened her mouth, but he spoke first. “Don’t say no. It’s a big step, but just think about it. I know you love your job, but you can work in an office anywhere. Even Montana. This could be the start of a new life for us.”

Memories of that star flashed in her mind, and the answer came out before she could think it through.

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

They arrived in early December, and her first impression was cold. Unspeakably cold, like her breath froze in the air before she could finish complaining. The real estate agent assured them that this was as bad as it would get. Normally the thermometer stayed above zero.

Half of her savings went into new clothes, but she didn’t mind the distraction. Job listings were posted even slower than the speed she learned to keep when she drove over snow that melted once then froze back into ice, and shopping made a better habit than TV.

She bought him a scarf for Christmas, and he bought her diamond earrings. She would have felt bad if she hadn’t spent two days studying recipes for roast goose and blackberry pie and another day after that on the cooking. She cracked the kitchen window to let the winter air in, and her cheeks were flushed pink with half a bottle of pinot noir by the time she brought the glasses to the table.

She lay in his arms after dinner while the laptop glowed with warm fireplace videos, and for just a few moments before she fell asleep, Montana wasn’t so bad after all.

But holiday cheer turned to January slush, and the extra time on her hands lost its appeal. When she walked into a boutique to browse jewelry she had no intention of buying, a friendly face behind the counter caught her by surprise.

“I love your style.”

Bundled up in all white over stretched out dark denim, Kara wasn’t sure if the woman was joking. She gave her half a smile before turning back to the display. “Thanks. I’m just looking.”

“Sure, take your time, but I mean it. My designs would look great on you.” The woman adjusted her headband over the front of her thick black ponytail. “Trust me, I have a sixth sense about these things.”

Kara laughed. “I’m sorry to disappoint your sixth sense, but I really am just looking. I moved here last month and don’t even have a job yet.” She paused, scanning the silver and amethyst earrings in the case closest to her. “These are really nice though. You made them?”

The woman’s eyes lit up as she walked around to the front of the counter. “No, this is perfect!” She offered her hand. “I’m Olivia, and yes, this is all mine. The last girl who worked here went home for the holidays and never came back. See? I was totally meant to meet you!”

Kara raised her eyebrows, but she accepted Olivia’s handshake, and ten minutes later, she accepted a part-time position as well. It was better than nothing, and at the moment, nothing was looking like the most realistic alternative.

She wouldn’t start calling it fate, but if the stars wanted to align in her favor, who was she to argue?

Work blossomed into friendship, and as the seasons passed, Montana became home. There was only one thing missing, and it couldn’t wait forever.

She had thought that Olivia’s wedding might inspire Scott to ask a question of his own, but the divorce that came eight months later brought that train of thought to a halt. For years he stayed happy with the way things were, and for years she remained content. But she had never wished to be content, and her restlessness grew day by day.

The parking lot was silent when she locked up the shop. Olivia was already gone, getting ready for a date. Inspiration hit, and Kara drove past the gym toward the house. Her yoga class would be there next week. She knew far better ways to release tension.

The driveway was dark, but not dark enough that she couldn’t see the black Lexus coupe that was parked in her space. Olivia’s car. She cut the engine and gripped the steering wheel until her fingers were numb and her knuckles were white. This wasn’t right. There had to be an explanation. A different explanation, not the one that she wouldn’t believe.

But the front door opened, and Scott gave her best friend a goodnight kiss so natural it couldn’t have been the first. Kara started the car as Olivia turned around, the surprise on her face frozen in the headlights. Whatever she shouted was lost in the screech of reversing tires.

Not sure where she was going, she had to get away. Speeding through the silent suburban streets, she turned on instincts that made no distinction between left and right. Tears blurred her vision, and she never saw the ice. There was only the moment of losing control.

Her forehead hit the airbag as the hood of her car crunched against something solid. She leaned her head back and stared up through the windshield at the ancient pine trunk that had withstood the impact.

A porch light switched on, and slowly, she turned to see the man whose tree she hit walking toward her car in a sweatshirt and jeans. She pushed herself up and opened the door, fresh air bringing her back to her senses as she swung her legs out into the cold.

Unsteady on her feet, she walked toward him. He shoved his hands in his pockets and she looked away, surveying the damage as he spoke.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded, then shook her head. Her body was fine, but everything else was a mess. The words came out as tears spilled down her cheeks. Pain, regret, lost hopes and broken dreams. Maybe none of what she said made sense, but at least he was listening. She finished her story with a sigh.

“You want to hear the worst part?” She motioned to the stars that mocked her with their brightness. “The night before I came here, I made a wish on one of these. I wanted to be happy, and I thought this was my chance, but I guess I picked a cursed one. It just stole five years of my life.”

He laughed. Her eyes narrowed, and he held his hands out in self-defense. “Wait, just listen. Do you have any idea how far away the stars are? Light-years. Your wish probably just got there, and it will be just as long before the answer comes back.” He shrugged. “Besides, if none of that happened, you never would have met me. I’m a pretty great guy, you know.”

His grin was infectious, and despite herself, she smiled. “Is that the silver lining?”

“Stars don’t have silver linings. Clouds do. I’ll tell you all about them if you want to come wait inside. We might even have time for some coffee before the police get here and write you five tickets for everything you did to that tree.”

Kara stared at him, then nodded, exhaling a breath that condensed in the night.

She still wouldn’t call it fate, but she wouldn’t waste her wish by stopping halfway.

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Written for the Fact to Fiction Writing Contest hosted by the lovely @anikekirsten:

The nearest star to us is 4.25 lightyears away, that's why wishes take at least 9 years to come true.

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