January

If you got lucky and sees five shooting stars, grasp your hands together, look up at the dark sky, and heartfully utter a wish. This opportunity may never come again if it's just a myth, you won't lose anything if you try. It seems like something to come out from a dumb fairytale story. Not that she never believed fairytales before. In fact, she wanted to be a princess in her hopeless fangirling days. The thought of a prince charming saving her at the last minute in trouble times, makes her squeal in delight.  "Grandma, I'm heading out. They say stars are gonna fall from the sky." A little girl around the age of six squeaks joyfully, tiny body hopping in a playful rhythm, almost resembling bunnies. "Come with me!" The eighty years old woman knew she won't be able to turn down her grandchild's prodding. Erine was quite an adorable child. Hair messy with pigtails, which her clumsy hands had tied earlier that day. One tooth missing every time she flashes her biggest smile. Wearing a white t-shirt, her tubby tummy makes a ballon figure with her pink jumper pants, one suspenders unclipped hangs loosely at her side. A dark brown color smudging her clothes from tonight's evening meal. Good thing the mother wasn't home or the child is gonna get another scolding. Erine's grandmother already has a weak body, skin already wrinkly, and bones almost visible in each limb. Just this year she was diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions and cancers. The parents of Erine knew that she's already too old, and got fewer months to live. Still, Erine never saw those deep sunken eyes shed a tear. Instead, she would show a very happy and fulfilling smile. "Rin is really excited, she must have something to wish?" Her voice has already been so terrible that Erine must listen carefully to understand. "Mm-hmm...Rin-Rin wishes for a prince charming, and he's gonna take me to his horse, a very, very big one!" Her tiny hands drew something in the air, tiptoeing to be able to reach more height than of her own. The grandmother nodded slowly, "I am sure Rin is gonna find her prince even without the help of the stars." "I need stars to make a wish, it takes five stars and I will get my prince and take me away!" Erine insisted, showing her five fingers. Her grandmother couldn't say anything anymore, letting the little girl boast of a fairytale life even more. Though she never found out if the little girl really gets to see the stars, nor did she ever get the happy ever after. And that little girl became a very jaded woman in her late forties. She did meet a very handsome prince that swift her off her feet on the very first day. Even though the lack of windchimes and singing angels kinda ruined it, but it's worth it because she gets to date a CEO! Everything she needed, her prince gave it all. A proposal on knees and big balloons, an expensive diamond ring, a grand wedding by the ocean. All that she desires was entertained. Her friends are envious of what she got. She has it all. But still, even after all this, she couldn't say that she's that happy. She couldn't really explain it but... Sometimes, there was a longing look whenever she sees those passionate and talented teenagers auditioning on a talent show. In their eyes was a spark she never once has, determination and dreams. "When I was young, I dance eight hours a day..." A young girl on the LCD screen of a newly established mall appeared, on her hand were three microphones of three different popular companies. People crossing the street stops to watch the lady on the big screen, Erine was among them, beside her was her husband, walking in holding hands. "I wasn't thinking to be recognized, I am just a young girl simply doing what she likes." Her age shows in her mannerisms and in the way she talks.  "What about love? Are you in a relationship now?" The interviewer asks. When she shakes her head, Erine noticed that the young girl was unbothered by her circumstances. "No, I don't have any boyfriend. Maybe I'll get one in the future. For now, I want to feel free and focus on my dreams." Her genuine smile broke across her face. "Besides, you only get to do all the things you want when you are young. Boyfriends can wait." Then a clip of the young girl was shown, her body responding to the beating of the music, each limb vibrates through a rhythmic pattern, her face exhibiting such unspeakable tale that transcendence any human communication. Smoothly, her body stops at the same time the music ended. To express their gratitude, the crowd broke into loud applause, expressing such great admiration for this precious new discovery. Erine's face lifted up in amazement, not at the showcased talent of the young girl, but with the way the viewers reacted to this. She couldn't quite understand how she felt at that moment, but these unknown feelings are overwhelming her. "Honey," Luke, her husband called her out of her wandering thoughts. Erine put up a forced smile and hummed a question. "Let's go home?" Looking up at the screen, Erine nodded her head, and as she stares longingly at the image of the young girl she saw a silhouette of a young Erine dancing in the girl's stead, so picturesque and...ambitious. Slowly, her face turns away. "Let's go..." They arrived home later that night, their two children, the eldest sister, and the youngest son were already sound asleep by the time she came to check. With a smile on her lips, she walks quietly over to their bed. Beside the twin-sized was a tree copper wire table lamp lighting a part of the room dimly, which the eldest forgotten to shot. Removing the book tucked in the eldest hands, pried open the hardcover of the children's book. Cinderella A famous princess story. Once a favorite of hers. The story is something that could happen only in fantasy, typical rags to riches heroine, and the Grimm brothers version was too gruesome for a reality. All that she could say is that it's all just stories. Though she wanted her children to grow up not to believe in them too much, seeing the influence of it in her life, she doesn't know if it's doing them any good. Setting the book aside, Erine planted a kiss in each of their temples before finally switching the lamp off. Slowly, she closes the door behind her, careful not to wake the kids. Luke was already asleep when she gets to their bedroom. She definitely doesn't know what goes between her husbands' workplace and business travels that he always ended up being stressed once he got home. It's a good thing that her husband was understanding and loving that he never forgets to spend time with her and their children. All she ever did was take care of her children along with the maids. Indeed, her life was like a fairytale fleshed out from the book. Her friends never cease to voice out how envious they were that she didn't get to experience working outside, they had to work hard to reach their dreams. One friend wants to be a movie writer, and just now, three different companies are looking for her, asking for price negotiation. While another friend who has been writing for years was suddenly offered a live adaptation of one of her series. Erine let out a breath as she shakes her thoughts away. Recently, she's feeling a little bit stressed. Which is impossible because she's not doing that much work to start with. Rummaging from their bar counter, Erine reached out for a bottle of red wine. She grabs a wine glass and headed towards their veranda. Turning the switch on, she let her eyes feast at the scenery before her. City lights and tall buildings and a romantic tower in the middle of each establishment. It was breathtaking as it was calming. She seats on one of the rattan chairs and placed her wines on the rattan table. Drinking another glass and evaluating her current lifestyle, she spent the passing time that way. When there was no more to drink, Erine closes her eyes. A smile was on her lips as she felt herself drifting into nothingness. "Why are you sleeping here?" A familiar voice suddenly broke into her consciousness. "Hmm..." Her forehead creased in confusion as she tries to go back to sleep. "Wake up..." "Hmm...?" There was something in front of her, she could feel them touching her nuzzling her nose, making her fall back in even deeper slumber. How could I wake up when you are doing that?! It must be Luke. After all, Luke is the only one who wakes her up this way, all lovingly and gentle. "Let me sleep." She said unconsciously, her head turning to another side to sleep more comfortably. "Come on, wake up..." Now he was playfully angry, she could almost see him pouting. "Rin, wake up would you, I have something to show you." Letting him speak more, Erine decided to just ignore him. When her eyes flew open when he realized something. He called me Rin! Her head bolts suddenly, as she quickly turns her head to where Luke was. Only to find that no one was there. The drums in her chest calm down, her shoulders relaxed as she thought she was surprised by nothing. Idly, she brushed her hair upwards, her tongue wetting her dry bottom lip. She decided she had too much drink for today. These hallucinations are getting stronger day by day. She couldn't even remember when she first had it. "I can't believe this...," She tells herself. It's been a long time and she still remembers her grandmother. Her grandmother was the only one who calls her by that name. Still, she wasn't sure, that someone in her hallucination was blurry, she couldn't even remember how they sounded like. She was already trying to get up from her seat when she caught something falling from the sky. Rubbing her eyes, she squints as she observed any disturbance on any of the stars. It could probably be some creepy UFO sighting. Not wanting to waste this moment, she pulled her smartphone and swipe it unlocked. She was fumbling with her camera when she notices another colorful thing descended from the sky, it was a reflection from her screen so she wasn't sure if it really is a shape of an alien spaceship. Out of curiosity, Erine looks up, her droopy eyes wide, not wanting to miss another strange sighting. She waited and waited, until the moment she's been waiting for arrived. "A shooting star!" She watched in disbelief as another shooting star fell from the sky, followed by another. Unable to remove her eyes from the night sky, Erine thought of the wishes coming true when you see descending falling stars. It was a myth, Erine firmly believes it was. As she didn't want to participate in any more children's myths, Erine chooses to turn around to see the fifth star. But before she could the last star to complete the wishing ritual fell. It was so sudden, Ernie didn't know what had happened after. All she knows is that she woke up in an oddly familiar room. Her large eyes moving around as she observes each extremity of the room. All she ever see was pink, from curtains, from heart printed wallpapers, beddings, tables, and to her rug carpets. If she wasn't mistaken, this nauseating, girly single-colored chamber was from... "Erine! Come on down, you're going to be late for school!" From downstairs, her mother's booming voice resonated in her quiet room. Well...it's my room... The only thing alarming is that it's from the past.