The Power of Wishes

Maple’s eyes widened as he stared at the steaming plate of spaghetti and meatballs before him. His tail gave a hesitant wag.

"Did my wish just come true? But… where’s the other dish?"

A deep, celestial voice echoed in the room. "You wished for spaghetti and meatballs. There it is."

Maple tilted his head. "Well, yes, but I wished for two plates. Aren’t you supposed to deliver the wishes exactly as I pictured in my head?"

The voice chuckled. "Wishes are not transactions, little one. They are whispers to the universe. Sometimes they come true, sometimes not. But if you expect them to be perfect, you will only find disappointment."*

Maple frowned, pawing at the floor. "So what’s the point of wishing, then?"

"Wishing changes you. Even when it doesn’t come true the way you expect, it stirs something within you. You step forward towards it, even without realizing it."

Maple thought about that, staring at the plate. Had he somehow nudged fate just by wanting this? Had he, in some subconscious way, drawn him closer to this meal?

He sighed. "I guess it doesn’t hurt to wish, then."

"Indeed. But remember—if you set your expectations too high, you will always feel like something is missing."

Maple stared at the lone plate for a moment, then let out a small chuckle. "Yeah… I suppose I should just enjoy what’s in front of me, huh?"

"That would be wise."

With that, Maple dug in, savoring each bite. And deep down, he wondered… maybe next time, his wish would bring an extra plate. Or maybe, just maybe, he’d find a way to get it himself.