Unnatural Instinct: Wish

‘Come on, Auntie. Swing me, swing me!’

Your little niece is tugging you over to the playground, her cute little face screwed up.

‘Okay, okay!’ you laugh.

She wriggles into the seat of the swing and you begin to push. She shrieks. ‘Not too high. Not too high!’

It’s the weekend and a sunny day at the beach. The glaring sunlight glints harshly against the water and the windshields of the nearby parked cars. There are kids everywhere. A sprinkler is running and they’re jumping over it. You spot your little nephews racing in circles around it.

There’s nowhere in the world where you’d rather be than with your family. Your older brother is watching from the picnic tables, his head on his hand as he smiles, his baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.

After a short while, your niece has had enough. She rushes away to join your nephews. Wiping the sweat from your forehead, you join your brother.

‘Having fun?’ he smirks.

‘Always.’ You drink from his water bottle, shaking out your sweaty shirt as you sit next to him.

He looks at you from under the brim of his hat—a little too closely. You turn to watch the children with a strained smile.

‘You look tired,’ he says. ‘Maybe you shouldn’t have come today. You work so much.’

‘Don’t be stupid. Being with you guys is the only thing that keeps me going.’

‘I worry about you.’

‘There’s no need. I’m absolutely fine.’

You both turn at the shout of your brother’s name. It’s your sister-in-law, Mika. She’s coming over, your two nephews clinging to her legs, giggling. She quickly sends them on their way as she joins you. Your brother stands and wraps his arms around her. You look away, pretending to sip at your water. They’ve been together ten years and seem happier than ever. Mika chuckles as your brother mutters something in her ear.

That’s it. You can’t take anymore. You sweep up your bag and stand. ‘I have to go.’

‘Already?’ your brother says, sounding disappointed.

‘I’m sorry. I-I forgot I have something to do today.’

Your brother calls after you but you just wave at him as you hurry to your car. Your hands are shaking as you open the door and climb in. Resting your head against the wheel, you suck in deep, slow breaths.

It works a little but not enough. Rummaging in your bag, you find your anxiety pills. You down two of them dry. You shouldn’t take them while driving but you’re confident they won’t affect you until you get home. You’re still trembling as you pull out into traffic.

Thankfully, your roommate isn’t home and you have the house to yourself. After grabbing something to eat, you lock yourself in your bedroom.

You stare at yourself in the mirror, feeling so deflated you could sink into the floor. Where have you gone? You used to be so optimistic and happy when you were young, when the world was easy and you could rely on your parents to take care of you. When you didn’t have any responsibilities or worries, except to get home before dark.

You’ve been so defeated for so long that there’s a permanent droop to your mouth. You haven’t had a haircut in years. Your poor diet means your face is pimply. There’s no time to exercise or even sleep properly. As for your body …

Less said the better.

There’s no companion to speak of, either. You haven’t had a boyfriend in years. It’s not a mystery. Who would want you? No man looks twice at you. The only companion you have is your roommate, Sarah.

You can hear her now. You can hear her laughing through your bedroom door as she drags some new boyfriend to her bed. You can hear his deep, rumbling voice.

With a sigh, you turn to your room, more specifically your bedside table. There lies a book. Your favourite book. “The Dark Prince” reads in raised gold lettering on a plain green background. It’s not much to look at but don’t judge a book by its cover! You’ve loved it since forever.

Picking it up, you slump into your pillows and turn to one of the many dog-eared pages. You don’t read the whole book anymore, only the parts you really like. You stare at his picture—the Dark Prince. Gorgeous. Powerful. Impossible. He’s looking up at you and you like to imagine that he’s really looking at you; that his rakish, wry smile is meant only for you.

You turn the page.

He led her by the hand, his skin strangely cool to the touch. Louise shivered. She should let go. She knew she should let go. But his mismatched eyes, one deep brown, one light blue, were mesmerising, and all she could do was follow along helplessly in his wake.

You lower the book, your heart beating faster as you imagine yourself in her position. Lucky bitch, you think to yourself. You turn the page.

There’s a picture of his castle. Built of shining obsidian, its many black towers stab at the sky. Unlike most castles, it doesn’t have a defensive outer wall; instead, it’s surrounded by dangerous marshes, the kind that sucks down wayward travellers and makes them disappear. The only way through is by powerful magic or via invitation from the Dark Prince himself.

“I can keep you forever. All you need do is wish it,” spoke the Dark Prince as he brushed a tangle of hair behind Louise’s ear.

“I-I don’t want to be kept,” Louise said, her voice trembling as his remarkable eyes bore deeply into hers. He was holding her hand, his thumb brushing the back of it softly.

He smiled. “I don’t think that’s true.”

Closing the book, you put it down on the bedside table as you lie back into your pillows, gazing up at the ceiling.

‘Louise is an idiot.’

Rolling onto your side, you fall asleep.