Chapter 1: The Ex’s Impossible Wish

Out of guilt, Nathaniel promised his ex three wishes. Whatever she asked, he’d do. No questions asked.

There’s a weight to that kind of promise—the kind that hangs over you, even years later. I figured it was just a gesture, a way for Nathaniel to make himself feel better, but sometimes, when her name came up, I’d see something flicker in his eyes—a shadow of that old promise.

The first two wishes? They were nothing. But right before I was set to marry Nathaniel, she made her third request.

“I want to have a child with you, Nathaniel.”

The words hung there, thick and unreal, as if time stopped. Nathaniel froze. He turned, looked at me—his face was an apology, and something else. Fear? Shame? I couldn’t tell.

“I... I have to grant her this wish.”

The night before our wedding, Nathaniel and I were at home, curled up on the couch, half-watching some obscure romance flick. Right as the main couple was about to get married, Nathaniel’s phone buzzed.

The room was cozy, smelled like popcorn. My feet were tucked under his legs for warmth. For a second, I thought he’d ignore the call. But he didn’t. He just answered.

“Hey, Mallory. Everything okay?”

I tensed at the name. Mallory. Nathaniel’s ex.

Even now, just hearing her voice—soft, familiar—made my skin crawl. After a moment, Nathaniel nodded, his jaw tightening just a little.

“Alright. Yeah, Lauren and I will come by.”

He hung up. I beat him to it.

“What’s going on?”

Nathaniel looked distracted. It took him a couple seconds to answer. He ran a hand through his hair, eyes still on his phone, like he was waiting for it to somehow make sense.

“Oh, Mallory needs our help with something. Just a small favor. She said it could count as her last wish, so we’ll just swing by. We might be home late.”

“Alright.”

I let out a breath. Got up, changed, and we headed out into the chilly night.

Weirdly, I was in a good mood the whole drive.

It almost felt like an adventure—the kind of last-minute errand you run for an old friend, even if the whole thing was weird. City lights blurred past. I hummed along with the radio, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine.

Back when Nathaniel and Mallory broke up, Mallory was in a bad car accident. She ended up paralyzed, in a wheelchair. Nathaniel’s parents had pressured him to break things off. Out of guilt, and unable to say no, Nathaniel promised Mallory three wishes—anything she wanted, he’d make it happen.

But Mallory never took advantage. Her first wish was just to help her unclog the kitchen sink. The second, after Nathaniel and I started dating, was to mail some local fudge and maple syrup to her folks back in Vermont. Both were small, everyday things. She rarely reached out—just the occasional holiday text. Nathaniel always replied. Polite, but distant.

At first, I’d been suspicious too. I’d even checked their Facebook messages a couple times—nothing but friendly, surface-level chat. So I relaxed, just waiting for her to cash in that last wish, so Nathaniel and I could get married in peace.

But...

The closer we got to Mallory’s apartment, the more this weird sense of dread crept in. Nathaniel’s brow was furrowed the whole drive, and he barely spoke. He even hit the brakes hard a couple times. Normally, he was such a careful driver.

My smile faded. Nathaniel just seemed... off.

The silence in the car was heavy, broken only by the low hum of the heater and the distant wail of a siren. Nathaniel gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. I kept glancing over, searching his face for some clue. But he just stared straight ahead.

When we arrived, Mallory was hunched over in her wheelchair, struggling to find us slippers. With her limited mobility, even the simplest things looked exhausting. Paired with her delicate, pretty face, she looked so pitiful, it was hard to be annoyed.

The hallway smelled faintly of lavender and antiseptic, a mix that made the place feel lived-in, but also kind of clinical. Mallory’s hands shook a little as she fumbled with the shoes, her hair falling in wisps around her face. There was a vulnerability there that tugged at something deep inside me, even as my guard stayed up.

Before I could help, Nathaniel rushed ahead and bumped me against the doorframe. My arm throbbed.

But he didn’t look back. He frowned, steadying Mallory, and gently scolded her:

“Mallory, if you’re not feeling well, just take it easy, okay? Why push yourself?”

Mallory stuck out her tongue, looking embarrassed. “Well, you and your fiancée are here, you need slippers, right?”

Nathaniel grabbed a small throw from the cabinet and draped it over her legs.

“If the floor’s dirty, I’ll mop it before we leave, okay? Don’t worry about slippers.”

“Alright,” she said, dragging out the word.

Nathaniel’s expression was cold, but there was a hint of old familiarity in the way he talked to her. Mallory smiled, all mischief.

Watching them, something strange welled up in me. Still, I told myself not to overthink it. Their chats were always normal. Nathaniel came home on time every day, spent all his free time with me. Maybe they were just more familiar because they’d dated before.

I tried to reassure myself. Really, I did.

Still, the way Nathaniel’s voice softened—just a touch—when he spoke to her, or the way Mallory’s eyes lingered on him, it all felt a little too intimate for comfort. I forced myself to take a deep breath, trying to convince myself I was just being paranoid.

“Let’s talk inside. It’s cold out here.”

I ignored my aching arm and cut in.

“Sorry, I got so caught up talking to Nathaniel I forgot to greet you. Come on in,” Mallory said, quickly maneuvering her wheelchair to make way for me, looking even more helpless than before.

I tried to give her a gentle smile. “It’s fine. You’re not well—your health comes first.”

At my words, Nathaniel seemed to remember I existed. His mouth tightened.

“Lauren, why are you just standing there? You’re letting all the cold air in.”

...

He’s my fiancé, I’m his future wife. No need to make a scene over something so small. I nodded, closed the door, and stepped inside.

But when I glanced up, I caught Mallory’s eyes—a flash of satisfaction in them. The next second, she switched to a soft, sweet smile, her dimples extra deep.

It was a look I’d seen before, the kind that said, I win—even if no one else saw it. It made my skin prickle, but I forced myself to keep my expression neutral.

“Thank you, Nathaniel, for still thinking about me. If we hadn’t fought back then, maybe we’d be as happy as you two. Maybe we’d even—”

“Mallory, just tell us your wish for tonight. Now’s not the time to reminisce.”

Nathaniel cut her off.

I kept my face blank. Old feelings are hard to forget—that’s normal. Nathaniel was a great guy, and their breakup hadn’t been a clean one.

Still, hearing Mallory talk like that in front of me felt like a slap. I bit the inside of my cheek, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

Mallory gave a small, pitiful smile. “Alright, I won’t say any more.”

“Actually, I asked you here to help me with one last thing. Only you can do it—I don’t trust anyone else. And after this, I promise, I won’t bother you or your fiancée again. Well, except to give you a wedding gift when you get married.”

...

She smiled sweetly. Hearing that, I felt relieved. I instinctively looked to Nathaniel, but found him staring at Mallory, a strange look in his gaze—almost… reluctant.

That heavy sense of dread pressed down on me again. When Nathaniel spoke, his voice was a little rough, but soft and low—so soft I almost missed it.

“It’s fine. Whatever you need, if I can do it, I’ll help.”

Mallory said, looking embarrassed:

“Nathaniel, I want a child—a child that’s yours and mine. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m already paralyzed. No one will ever want me. Ten, twenty years from now, when my parents are gone, I’ll have no family left. No one to take care of me. So, out of kindness, could you help me? Just this once? Think of it as repaying me for saving your life—if I hadn’t pushed you out of the way, I wouldn’t be like this.”

Her words came out in a rush, her voice trembling just enough to make anyone feel sorry for her. She looked up at Nathaniel with wide, pleading eyes, and for a split second, I saw the boy he used to be—the one who couldn’t say no to anyone in pain.

...