She's so tired
it's a wonder that she's even awake right now.
Her parents had warned her
that she was taking too many classes.
"You'll burn yourself out,"
they'd said.
Pride wouldn't let her admit
they were right.
She was really struggling.
But it was all to push herself
to be the best she could be.
So she would keep going
somehow.
At least winter break was coming up.
She could catch up on sleep
and maybe regain some sanity.
Maybe.
But for now she's so tired
that she's surprised by the envelope taped to her locker.
She immediately feels guilty.
How could she have forgotten Mystery Boy?
Especially when he's never forgotten her.
She opens the envelope and unfold the note.
All you have to do is close your eyes and make a wish.
Stapled to the bottom of the note
is a plastic bag
full of silver glitter and confetti.
It's labeled as magic wishing dust.
And though she's far too old to believe in it,
she smiles.
She shakes the bag's contents into her hands
and closes her eyes,
ready to make a wish.
But she comes up short.
She's long since stopped believing
in birthday wishes
or dandelion wishes
or eyelash wishes.
She's already learned if you want something
you have to work for it.
She has no idea what to wish for.
Plus it wouldn't work anyway.
It's just glitter.
She opens her eyes.
She must look so foolish
standing in the middle of the hallway
with a handful of glitter.
She marches outside
and blows the glitter off her hands,
eyes wide open.
And as the glitter settles on the snow covered sidewalk
she wonders
if she'll ever get to meet her Mystery Boy.