He died a week after my birthday. That's how I learned about the loophole. I wished with everything in my body for the tumor to go away. That he would behome for my birthday. It came true, but then my wish ended.

They didn't know I was standing in the door was crying. I didn't make a sound at the time. I listened to my mother try to muffle her cries. I watched the nurses go around and shut of the machines. They pulled the tube out of his throat and wires off of his body. When he was all unhooked, they rolled a thin mint green sheet over his body. I looked at his body, cloaked in the sheet, unmoving.

if I could go back and remake that wish, I would erase the loophole. But I can't. I wished that his tumor would be removed and would come home for my birthday. I never wished that a day later that he would have a seizure that left him in a coma. I didn't wish it would become a waiting game. But i did keep a promise. I didn't use another wish on my brother. So I watched him die. I watched my mother fall apart. I sat by his grave every Saturday until we moved when I was nine.

That trip was when I used my second wish. Three years after I used my first wish. My father's friend was driving the UHaul for us. My mother had passed out in the passengers seat and my father had rested his hand on her knee. He would glance at her often, a smile always spread across his face. It wasn't just with his lips though, they eyes that became heavy after Daniel's death would smile to. They looked exactly like Daniels. A light green with a brown ring around the pupil. But his eyes had bags and lines under them.

My father always looked older than he should have. Instead of 36 he looked about 45. He was from a sadder time, I had told myself. A time where his mother had died in a car accident and his father was never home. He took care of his two younger brothers and younger sister. He dropped out of high school at the age of sixteen when Grandpa had a heart attack. After about two years he returned and got his diploma. He moved on to go to Kansas CIty State University for a major in Biology. He was taking a train home when he met my mother in his second year of school. She was attending Kansas City art institute. She was majoring in Art History, but was taking several classes at the University. She had approached my father asking if he went to the school. They ended up talking all night. And when my fathers stop came he asked if she was getting off.

"No, I'm not this stop," He looked down at her. Instead of grabbing his luggage and leaving, He sat next to her and leaned back against the seat. "So Marie," He smiled at the way her name felt on his lips, "Where are we going?"

"To our future, David." He meet her parents that week. They were thrilled that she was finally interested in someone who had a promising career ahead of him.

My father's career had started with teaching Microbiology at MIT. He was then requested by a secret foundation to work for them. With a major wage increase and better benefits my father couldn't refuse even if he tried. I think it was because he couldn't stay in the house anymore. Too many memories that were painted on the walls. He wanted a fresh start. It would be good for my mother who was again pregnant.

I always wondered how I would use my second wish. Would it be for me? Would it for my future? Would it be for my relationship? For my child? For my ticket to be called for the lottery? I would sit in the back of the car tracing figure eights onto the frosted windows. My little sister, Avery, would try to talk to me but after I didn't respond the fist three times she gave up, probably thinking I was asleep. She started to sing a song mom used to sing at bedtime. It started out as a hum but she then hit the chorus.

"Téir abhaile riú, téir abhaile riú

Téir abhaile riú Mhearai

Téir abhail gus fan sa bhaile

Mar tá do mhargadh déanta"

I listen to her stumble on the second to last line and start to hum again. I picked up where she left off.

"Come now and follow me down

Down to the lights of Galway where

There's fine sailors walking the town

And waiting to meet the ladies there,"

She smiled at me as I sang along with her. My mother had woken up and was looking at us over her shoulder. It was then when we all started to sing.

"Watch now he'll soon be along

He's finer than any sailor so

Come on now pick up your spoons

He's waiting to hear you play them WHOOO!"

It was a perfect moment. I think we all have perfect moments before something horrible happens. Even if its a feeling or just something small. Nothing bad can go wrong unless you get your hopes up with perfection. I saw the lights coming through the rain clouded windshield. I noticed a moment too late the the lights weren't on the right side of the road. I didn't have time to think before metal surrounded me. I heard scraping, screaming, crying and prayers. I didn't know if i was upside down or not. My left arm was twisted behind me and my sisters foot was in my face. I saw my mother's eyes through a gap in the seat and the roof that was forced to divide us.

"Are you okay?" It was my father. I couldn't see him but I heard he voice through my sisters cries. My mother said she was okay but her leg was stuck. Avery stuck to crying and I just groaned in response. I was too busy pulling every piece of life in m body into a single bal. I tried to let it surround me. I pushed it out praying that someone would catch my wish and open it.

It seem to take forever until I saw the red and blue lights flashing off the metal. The colors were faded and blurred together. Like the voices that were yelling and trying to soothe our nerves. They got Avery out first. Her leg was bent 90 degrees in the wrong direction. She was missing several teeth and her right eye was swollen shut. Momma was next. They had to slowly pry her leg free. because of the damage and how severe it was they didn't think they could save it. That's what the police man closest to my window said. Are at least what I thought he said. I was uncomfortable, not hurt, just cramped in the dome of metal. They ended saving me for last. Daddy was rescued but wasn't responding. I was the only one who wasn't harmed. They had to pry open the metal around me. Not a scratch on my summer sun kissed skin.

That was the first time I got to ride in a helicopter. I was sitting at the end of the gurney that my sister was whimpering on. They had checked me and agreed that I was perfectly safe. A larger blady came up to me when we arrived. She had a floral scrub top and light blue bottoms with perfectly clean white shoes.

"Come with me, Honey," So I grabbed her hand and walked the opposite direction of my family. It appeared that Daniel had caught the wish.

"What's your name, Sweetie?"

"Carly," she pointed to the number 3 on the elevator panel and waited for me to push it. I smacked it with the palm of my hand accidentally hit the five with my thumb. She didn't seem to mind.

It was two days later when they came to Lisa, who was sitting in her usual spot on the computer. "How do you keep your shoes so white?" I asked. I tried to avoid looking up. I hate hospitals ever since Daniel had died.

"Are you Carly Grieff?"

"Yes," I pulled my eyes up to a man. He had brown eyes and blonde hair His hair was cut short and he was fitted in a dark gray suit.

"We have some unfortunate news."