Heart of a Genie

Light streamed through the small window of the back room, illuminating the room. The dust that floated in the air was highlighted by the morning rays, unmoving and graceful. Laid on the floor were the two girls, one breathing softly while the other occasionally stirred. Suletta, as a genie, had no need to sleep. She could rest her eyes and pretend but her mind was constantly awake. She watched as the particles danced in the air, barely flowing. She tries to blow air at it to see it stir, yet nothing happened. "You dummy..." She closed her eyes and felt her tears welling up. Before a tear could fully form, Suletta noticed the white-haired girl behind her shuffle in her sleep. Suletta turned to face her. Her expression was so much softer than it was when she was awake. The usual look of distaste and pensiveness was replaced by the look of peace. She wondered if she was having a pleasant dream. Her pale skin was captivating under the morning light, almost radiant. A thin piece of hair rested on her face. Suletta briefly wished she was human so she could move the hair out of her way or put Miorine's cape on her so she's warm enough. She realized what she just thought and blushed, turning onto her back to watch the ceiling. She let time pass, wondering what she will grant Miorine next.

Groggily, Miorine rose from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes and noticed Suletta. "Did you sleep well?" The red-haired girl asked, turning to face her again and resting her face on a hand.

"I'm assuming you didn't sleep." Miorine replied, ignoring the question.

Suletta chuckled. "Nope. Not a bit. But it's fine. It's like we had a sleepover!"

Miorine raised an eyebrow at the puzzling girl. "You're weird." Suletta gave a wide smile. "That's not a compliment." Miorine got up and dusted off her pants.

The glowing girl sat up. "So, what's your next wish?" Suletta asked, excited for her next favor to grant.

"I'll decide that later. For now, I need to keep moving." Miorine said, indifferent.

"Wait, you're leaving? You still have three more wishes!" Suletta got to her feet, upset at the idea.

Annoyed, Miorine turned to her. "Obviously, idiot. I'll be back, but I can't make another wish without thinking again." She left the back room to collect her cape, preparing for the upcoming journey in the early winter weather. "You know I could take you with me, right?"

Suletta shook her head in response to Miorine's offer. "No, I have to wait for my mom." Suletta followed behind but stopped at the desk, looking down. Miorine notices her dejection and sighed, frustrated at how easily this nitwit could get sent to the dumps. She pulled her hood over her head and rested her hand on the door knob. Before leaving, she called out to Suletta. "Yes?" She responded, finally looking up.

"I promise I'll be back. You can believe me."

Suletta returns her gaze down to the floor. "I do believe you, Miorine."

She opens the door and shuts behind her, leaving the red-haired girl in the neglected building.

Suletta put her back to the wall and slumped to the floor. She certainly did believe Miorine would return, but saying goodbye was still painful. She opted to wait outside her lantern for the girl to return. After all, it's been awhile since she's been out. Closing her eyes, she hoped for Miorine to return soon. Suletta could tell a few days had passed since Miorine's departure from the shop, noticing the sun rise and fall through the back room's window. Her mind wandered to her mother, her time spent outside in the nearby fields, and occasionally the sight of Miorine sleeping at her side. Though she couldn't feel physical sensations, she felt a certain warmth whenever she traveled back to those moments. A tinge of pain interrupted those thoughts at times, fears of uncertainty and worries that her new friend doesn't miss her. "It's fine.... I'm ok." She repeated to herself, a comforting mantra.

Another uneventful morning followed the next. But finally, Miorine returned. She slammed the door behind her and ducked down. Suletta caught herself before waving at Miorine, instead hiding behind the desk. A few shadows passed the window, continuing their search. Sighs of relief were breathed. "MioMio! You're back!" Suletta cried, nearly jumping over the desk and running over to her.

"I told you not to call me that." She threw her discarded cloak at the genie, it passing through her.

Suletta giggled. "That tickled!"

Miorine shook her head. "Don't involve me with your madness."

Suletta shrugged. "You're the one who wants her wishes."

Miorine rolled her eyes at her. "Don't be so serious. Actually, maybe being a bit more serious might be better for you. The red hair doesn't help though. Reminds me of a clown."

Suletta rushed to her defense. "It's natural! I've had this hair color since I was born!" Suletta grins at the conversation. She tries to get back at Miorine for her lighthearted mockery. "So are you here to make your wish? Or just to see me?" The genie chuckled. Instead of a snide comment, Miorine doesn't respond. Suletta looked up at her, noticing her looking away. She took this as another sign to shut up and sucked in her lips.

A few moments pass, leaving Suletta to awkwardly twiddle her thumbs as Miorine sat against the adjacent wall. The silence is interrupted by a declaration. "I know what I want. I want my father to listen to me." Miorine clenches her teeth while the genie reflects.

Suletta, after imaging the effects, immediately began to argue. "Miorine, that's not spec-"

She's cut off by Miorine standing up, hiding her eyes behind her bangs. "I told you. I know what I want. I'm sick of that shitty old man making all the decisions and dictating everything in my life. The only way I can be free is by making him understand." She crossed her arms in front of her chest, almost as if she was trying to hold herself together.

After giving her a few seconds, Suletta responds in a voice full of concern. "There are other ways, other wishes you could make. He won't-"

Miorine again interrupts, this time raising her voice. "You don't know how he is. Just grant the wish. I'll manage." The genie knows she's fighting an impossible battle. Raising her fingers, she reluctantly grants the wish. The sparks fall the the floor.

Miorine sits down on the cold floor, far from the warmth coming from Suletta. She hugs her knees to her chest. "...I'm sorry. About your dad." Suletta eventually gets out. Miorine doesn't reply to what she assumes as pity, scoffing. Looking down at her boots, the red-haired girl wished they could go back to how they felt earlier. Though, what Suletta doesn't realize, is that Miorine felt the same way.

Throwing on her cape once again, Miorine faced the door. Before Suletta could say anything, she turned to face the genie. "I'm going to see my dad." A pause. "Wait for me." She opens the door and leaves yet again, Suletta watching the door close before processing what she had said.

Smiling to herself, Miorine's words drive away her fears. She giggles again. "She wants me to wait for her." Suletta decides again to stay out of her lantern. She doesn't want to miss another greeting.

Two days pass and her spirit is unwavering. Excited for her return, Suletta paces the front of the shop, imagining what she'll say next to Miorine once she returns. She thinks up different discussions to learn more about her. A smile lights up her face when she hears the door swing open. She turns to see her visitor, but her smile is wiped off. Miorine's face is dark. Suletta's heart is in her throat and a pain is in her gut. Miorine closes the door and leans against it, slowly sliding to the floor. Her entire face is contorted in a mix of anger and hurt. Worried she'll explode at the slightest annoyance, the genie keeps her mouth shut.

After gathering her words, Miorine explains. "He... listened. Listened too much." Her knuckles turned white as she rubbed her teeth together. "He wouldn't leave me alone, that piece of shit! He constantly came to me for advice for what his next move should be, bowing to my every word. He's an adult, yet he lost his self respect." She let out a hard exhale through her nose. "This isn't what I wanted. I should've just listened to you." Miorine stood up, still looking down. Suddenly, she punched the wall. "Undo my previous wish, that's my wish." Without question, Suletta followed orders. Miorine rested her head against the wall. "That idiot..."

Suletta regained her voice. "Listen, it isn't your fault M-"

The white-haired girl's voice rose and nearly screamed. "What do you know, Suletta? How would you know how it feels to have nothing?" Miorine caught her breath, eyes going wide. She looked at Suletta, seeing the tears in her eyes. She parted her lips as if to say something, but stopped, letting her red hair cover her expression. "...I'll leave." Miorine quickly left, leaving her mistake along with Suletta.

"Wait!" She cried out, raising her hand to reach out to the already shut door.

Tears steamed down her face. "You never said you'd come back..."