"You only get one wish"
I strained my ears to overhear the gaggle of girls to my left.
"Just one? But how am I meant to choose between Jake asking me on a date and the new Chanel bag daddy won't let me have?" A blonde haired girl wailed at the prospect. Oh jeez. I rolled my eyes twisting my chair so that the metal screeched on the floor silencing them.

"You're idiots the lot of you," I spat, their eyes narrowed in hatred. "The tree does nothing."

"How would you know skank?" It was the brunettes turn to hiss. The others nodded their approval.

"Skank? Seriously Anna? That's the best you have?"

Five years of being bullied and their insults still lacked any originality. Lifting my tray I ignored the cackle that floated behind me. Throwing my lunch into the bin, I head towards the library. It was my safe place.

Scrawling onto a post-it note I'd swiped from the librarians desk I vowed to prove them wrong. A tree that can make your deepest desires a reality. Yeah right

Folding the paper in half I almost sprinted to the tree, rain violently beating down on my face. Trembling from the cold I pushed the note into a small hole in the bark, eight inches from the ground. A bright light blinded me as mechanical whirring broke the silence. Before my mouth could drop open, it ceased.

Blinking in the silence I laughed loudly. That's what you get for not sleeping. Your mind plays tricks on you. Thrusting my hands into my pocket I slowly trudged back to school.

"Hey skank,"

I groaned, refusing to turn around. One more lesson and I would be home. Back to the mess that is the room I shared with my four year old sister.

"I'm talking to you!"

Before I could respond, Anna threw me into the year 7 lockers. Pain shot through my back.

"Don't you ever talk to me like that again. Got it?" She spat, hands either side of my head. God I'd love to head-but her. I say nothing as she walks away laughing with her cronies. They'd soon learn the tree was fake. I'd wished to be the best footballer player in school. It will never happen, my foot can't even connect with a ball.

PE kit hanging awkwardly against my skinny frame I aim my foot. The ball glides neatly into the net. Then another. And another. What the fuck? The note! It worked!

Sunlight falls onto my face the next morning. I roll over to see my little sister curled in a ball crying, dad beside her brazenly doing up his trousers. It's only then do I realise. I wasted my wish. I could have saved us from him. Fuck!

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Word count - 467