Diyah Gurung
Little tweaks of snapping twigs echoed through the never ending field of the forest where little Lila's footsteps rustled among the ground.
Her adolescent eagerness to see the flock of birds go by the forsaken beach is her only vision of entertainment. However, on that very day, the wind whispered through her ears and the waves danced around the melody of a shimmering pebble nestled among the seashells.
The more Lila was intrigued by the magical aura of the pebble, the closer she got to it. She picked up the mysterious pebble and felt a gentle warmth in her palm. Little did she know, this pebble held magical powers that granted endless wishes upon her orders. Little cheeky Lila was ecstatic for the upcoming wishes she had in mind. With an innocent smile, she made her first few wishes, not knowing that it would change her life.
Lila wished for everything she had in her naive mind. She wished for every toy all around the world, an infinite amount of ice cream, the ability to fly and popularity. She rambled all the wishes she could ever wonder without thinking twice.
She ate till she fell ill. The greediness to have all the toys in the world overflowed her house. When she soared into the sky, she found herself missing the beauty of the world below. When she got all the fame she wanted, no one actually cared for her real self.
The wish pebble became a magical mentor, gently guiding Lila through the pitfalls of her desires. Instead of being greedy and desiring everything, she learnt to share and limit her extras to live a simple life. Lila grew wiser with each wish, she decided to use the pebble differently. Instead of seeking personal gain, she wished for the happiness and well-being of her friends and family.
The pebble, recognizing her selflessness, granted these wishes. As the temperature dipped and she snuggled in her bed, Lila realized that the true magic lay not in the wishes themselves but in the lessons learned along the way. With a heart full of gratitude and newfound wisdom, she returned the wish pebble to the beach, its magical energy ready to touch the life of another adventurer. And so, as the sun dipped below the horizon, little Lila walked away from the beach, carrying with her memories of a magical journey and a pocketful of valuable lessons that would last a lifetime.
