A Wish I Might

Bonnie held her breath as she trudged towards the wishing well.

She'd made sure to choose a time to visit the well when other baos wouldn't also be there. She didn't want anyone to feel awkward that someone else had come at the same time as their turn to make a wish... or even worse, someone could hear the wish she was about to make! How embarrassing!

Because of this, she had made all the necessary calculations to ensure the best time to visit... which was, coincidentally, six in the morning. She wasn't going to think too hard about how tired she felt right now.

Her math was simple. Most baos chose to visit the wishing well when they could see the stars in the sky - meaning, at night. Some baos enjoyed the ambiance more like that, while others were superstitious, and wanted to make sure that they weren't just wishing on the well, but all the stars above as well.

Bonnie didn't really care for aesthetic preferences, nor was she superstitious enough to need a nighttime visit. The next step was just to bring her nerves together, and actually walk forward to make her wish.

The well looked a bit lonely, in the daytime. In the nighttime, it felt like a portal to another world, but in the day, it was just an ordinary well, made of boring stones, and unremarkable wood.

She shook her head quickly back and forth. She didn't plan this all through to just chicken out last minute! She stepped forward, peering over into the well, surprised when she didn't see herself reflected in the water.

Of course there wouldn't be a strong reflection. The night sky would've been what did that. She felt a little silly for feeling disappointed.

"Um... hello?" She called, into the well. "My name's Bonnie... I'm here to make a wish?"

There was no response. She still waited for one, though. It was only polite.

She took a deep breath. "Okay... um. Here goes. I'd like to... wish for a friend? I'd like to meet someone nice, who I could help out, and who could help me... is that alright? Is that allowed?"

The water rippled below her. She couldn't tell if there was any response.

"I-- brought a friendship bracelet. To offer in return," she added, fishing around in her pockets to find it. "Could you bring it to my future friend...? Please?"

She gently set the bracelet onto the side of the wishing well, careful as to ensure that it wouldn't fall in. Then, she took a step back, letting out a short breath.

She did it. She had made her wish.

...Suddenly, she felt the adrenaline of the nervous energy grip her again. She turned quickly, and stumbled away, making a hasty retreat.

She did it, she reminded herself. No matter how embarrassing it was, she was able to wish for a friend...!

She smiled all the way home.