Contest: The Elliptical Awards
Host: Cansburg Community | CansburgCommunity 
Order: Round 1: Short Story
ㅤ└─ deadline: 21 June 2023

Prompt: Write a poem about your family traditions, jokes, trips, and more!
ㅤ└─ word limit: 450 - 1500 words
ㅤ└─ word count: 1496 words

Partner: ivyB4winter

Results: second place

“I could’ve sworn that I’ve passed through here before,” Mr Blake grumbled as he consulted his map. He had been wandering around here for a few days, in search of the sisters who could grant any wish.

Call him crazy, but Mr. Blake had seen miracles happen with his own eyes. A local soldier had found them and brought back a vial of they’re blessed water for his mute son. The very next day, the young boy spoke his first words.

If the sisters’ magic allowed the boy to speak, why wouldn’t it make his mother see again? His mother lost her sight in an accident and wished to see her family’s faces just once more. She was getting old and who knew when she might leave? With refound determination, he continued his search. It was late and he would need a warm place for the night.

Soon, a small inn appeared in his vision. Maybe he could stay there? He opened the door and entered. Covering the left of the inn was a counter with dozens of bottles displayed eye-catchingly. The rest of the space was filled with tables and chairs for guests to dine. At the very back was a staircase leading to the rooms and an open door beside it to the kitchen.

“Ah, just in time sir,” a voice said from behind the counter. “We’ve been expecting you.”

He whirled around. “We?”

“Yes, we,” two more voices replied. Turning around, a younger woman straightened from where she was wiping one of the tables while an older one emerged from the kitchen.

“Wh-who are you?” 

“We are the Fates!"

They sounded familiar…something to do with granting wishes…

The first Fate smiled kindly. “Yes dear, we can fulfill anything your heart desires.”

“But you only have three wishes,” the second Fate added.

“And must face consequences for your wishes,” the last Fate warned.

“I wish my mother could see again!” Mr. Blake exclaimed. What consequences he’d have to face, he did not care. All he wished was for his mother to be cured.

“And so she would.”

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When he awoke from his slumber, he was lying in his bed. He ran out of his hut and saw his mother sitting underneath a tree, reading a book. He quickly hugged her which she reciprocated, crying in joy.

That evening, when his daughter came home, all of them had a small dinner party. Later, his daughter sat with him, telling him the big plans she had for the future.

However, Mr Blake barely earned enough to put food on the table and send his daughter to school. His parents' savings from their younger days were dwindling quickly. There was no way he could fund his daughter's dreams.

Then a sudden thought came to his mind. The sisters had proven that their wishes worked. After all, his mother could now see again. Surely he could wish for some riches. He looked at his mother taking in the world she had missed and his daughter talking excitedly about her dreams. That was when he made up his mind—he needed to go back to the sisters for the rest of his wishes.

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“Hello weary traveler, just in time for supper too.”

A warm voice greeted Mr. Blake. He turned to look at the lady who stood, glowing radiantly, behind the counter. She walked to the front door, shutting it close. Then, the other sisters made their entrance.

“I see you returned, just like the others.” the second sister smiled.

“What is it that you wish for now?” the youngest Fate spoke in a sweet voice. He smiled before addressing the fates.

"I don't make much money and my daughter has big dreams that I cannot afford… I wish for a fortune to send her to one of the top schools and get the best education."

Mr Blake's vision blurred as the third sister gave him an endearing smile, but his vision quickly cleared again. Perhaps it's just old age…

"Your wish is my command," the sister said. "Your treasure awaits, hidden under your mattress back home. It must've been a long journey and you must be tired. Why don't you stay tonight?"

The traveler didn't see any harm in that and so he agreed. It was a long and tiring journey and the sun had long set. At least he would have a warm meal and a comfortable bed.

However, as he laid in bed that night, he couldn’t stop thinking about his future. He was sixty-three and wasn't getting any younger. His daughter was young, just fourteen, and the fact that he might leave her anytime scared him. His wife had died during labor and his mother was dying. He hoped to be there for his daughter as best as possible.

Just then, his vision blurred again. There seemed to be two lights on the ceiling instead of one. His heart raced as he blinked a couple of times before the two lights merged back. He was getting old. There was no denying it anymore.

His breathing turned ragged, his thoughts spun out of control. He would tell his wife that he didn't fear death, but now, he couldn't help it. He suddenly remembered that he still had one wish. He threw his blanket off and ran out of the room. The three sisters looked up as he dashed into the room.

"My last wish," he panted, the sisters looking at one another knowingly. "Is to be younger!"

The sisters were silent for a moment before the first sister said, "If that's what you want…"

"Yes! Yes, it is!" Mr Blake was frantic. The eldest of the three fates, looked conflicted. The youngest looked sympathetic while the middle sister stood burning with an unsettling aura.

Without another word, the first sister snapped her fingers before speaking in a monotone voice. "The magic will take a while to work but the results will start showing tomorrow."

With a sigh of relief, Mr Blake trudged back up the stairs, his heart lighter than ever. Just as he reached the top step, his vision blurred again. He held onto the railing until it cleared. Oh, he couldn't wait to see the results.

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The next day, Mr. Blake woke up early and headed home. As he neared his village, and was about to exit the forest, he realized he had lost his pocket watch. He quickly turned around, running back into the forest. However, the trees no longer blew with the merry wind, the birds no longer chirped, the sun was covered by dark angry clouds. He scuffled around for a long time before reluctantly turning back to his village.

The pocket watch had been very dear to him and his family. It was not only the only precious piece of jewelry they owned, but also a gift to his great grandfather from the government! It had been passed down from generation to generation until it finally fell into the hands of Mr. Blake. As he entered his hut, old Mrs. Blake started crying uncontrollably.

Shocked, Mr. Blake quickly ran to her, asking what was wrong. Soon, it was revealed that after returning from school earlier that day, his daughter had suddenly passed out. After seeing the village doctor, they found out that his daughter had a chronic disease and most probably would not live for long unless she went through surgery.

“Where will we get the money from? My poor child, how will we save her now?” his mother cried out in misery. He stood up and hobbled to his worn out mattress.

The surgery was a success, but the doctor said she only had four years left. The poor man broke down in a fit. Then he realized that this only happened after he went to those three sisters.

“What are you thinking of?” his mother asked, seeing the look on his face. 

He then confessed about the sisters and the wishes. His mother listened with growing horror before she gave him a piece of her mind. “What were you thinking? Have I not told you the story of the Fates before?”

Mr Blake paled as he remembered the story. The Fates granted three wishes, but they all came with consequences. His deteriorating vision, the missing watch, his daughter’s health…suddenly everything made sense.

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“What do you mean you can’t do anything?” Mr Blake cried out in distress. “Surely you can take back the wishes or something!”

“I’m sorry, but what’s done is done,” the eldest Fate said firmly.

“The wishes cannot be undone,” the second Fate added.

“You better leave, traveler, before you get punished!” the last sister warned.

Mr Blake howled in anguish before storming out of the place. Just as he slammed the door shut, another woman pushed it open and entered. The sisters' eyes gleamed as they regarded the woman.

"Welcome weary traveler, we’ve been expecting you." they said in unison.