"Make a wish."
James looked around at the smiling faces of his friends, illuminated by the glow of birthday candles. With a nervous grin, he closed his eyes and tried to think of something to wish for.
A new car? A trip abroad? James tried to settle on something. Life was good, his career was good. He could afford almost anything he desired. Except... there was one thing. Deep down. Way deep down. One thing he wanted more than anything else.
He opened his eyes and blew out the candles.
As his friends cheered, everything took on a surreal quality for a moment. It was odd: when he exhaled, he felt like he expelled more air than he intended. As if he needed time to recover. Did everything seem different now? No, it was probably just wishful thinking. He swallowed a lump in his throat. He usually got this way when he thought about it. Intense. Powerful. Overwhelming.
"So, what did you wish for?"
James looked around at the smiling faces of his friends, illuminated by the glow of birthday candles. With a nervous grin, he closed his eyes and tried to think of something to wish for.
A new car? A trip abroad? James tried to settle on something. Life was good, his career was good. He could afford almost anything he desired. Except... there was one thing. Deep down. Way deep down. One thing he wanted more than anything else.
He opened his eyes and blew out the candles.
As his friends cheered, everything took on a surreal quality for a moment. It was odd: when he exhaled, he felt like he expelled more air than he intended. As if he needed time to recover. Did everything seem different now? No, it was probably just wishful thinking. He swallowed a lump in his throat. He usually got this way when he thought about it. Intense. Powerful. Overwhelming.
"So, what did you wish for?"