I was jolted awake at the sudden sound of a box tumbling to the floor, sending my belongings scattering around me. With a sigh of relief, I closed my eyes again, my breathing slowly returning to normal after the intense dream.

In the darkness, I heard faint footsteps, followed by the sound of someone gathering the fallen items and placing them back into the box.

"I'm sorry, I hope I didn't wake you up."

The Godmother stood before me, her presence instantly calming my spirit with her warm smile.

"Thank you for grabbing those for me."

The old lady smiled. "You are a very polite young man. But your sleep is indeed very loud. I came to see if you were alright. Think of positive things that happened to you before you go to sleep. Positive thoughts bring positive dreams. That way, it won't be that loud on the other side."

"I found it difficult to understand the meaning behind her reference to 'the other side.'

"Can you describe the other side to me?" I asked.

"Aren't you a curious one?" she responded with a smile, then took a seat on my bed. "Understand that everyone perceives the other side differently. For some, it might be a playground, while for others, it could be a small patch of green grass beneath the shade of an oak tree. The other side is seen as a place of refuge and comfort, and I happen to navigate between the real world and the other side as a guide to your place of harmony."

Reflecting on her words, I tried to visualize an image in my mind of a place of harmony that would provide me with shelter on the other side.

"I think my place of shelter will be my parents' house."

"If that's the place you feel most comfortable, then it will be." She extended her hand and gently touched my arm. "I think you still need more rest. Remember; happy thoughts, happy dreams."

With her words, I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep.

The next day, I awoke with a sense of someone sitting beside me. Opening my eyes, I found Ashley sitting on my bed, her face flushed with irritation. "I don't think The Godmother wants to grant me that wish."

I observed the pink hat adorning her head, covering most of her hair. "Good morning to you too, Ashley," I greeted her with a smile. "The hat looks good on you."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Suddenly, her expression shifted, and her cheeks flushed with a reddish hue. "Thanks. But I still want to see my wish granted, and I don't have a lot of time to wait around for it."

"I understand your frustration, Ashley, but we need to be patient. We wrote the wish last night, and these things take time."

She stood up from my bed, crossing her arms and frowning deeply. "You have to call the old lady and tell her that I demand the wish to be granted immediately."

"Ashley, please let everything run its natural course. You know the wish can be unpredictable."

As I attempted to calm her down, the door creaked open slowly. A woman peered through the crack of the door, her smile widening upon seeing Ashley. She gestured for me to remain silent, placing her index finger to her lips. Then, another man emerged and hurried toward Ashley, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Princess!"

Ashley turned around, her body freezing in place as she beheld her parents walking into the room. Tears welled up in her eyes, as she stood motionless before them. Overcome with emotion, she began to cry, rejoicing at the presence of her parents.

Her father scooped her up into his arms, laughter filling the room as he twirled and danced with her.

Meanwhile, the man who had been sleeping on the couch abruptly stood up upon the arrival of Ashley's parents.

"Welcome, sir! Your visit was not expected."

"Yes, it was, Henry. We made the choice to dedicate more time to Ash. Considering everything, we now have an abundance of time at our disposal."

Ashley steps back from her father's embrace, curious about his comment. "You have plenty of time now? What happened?"

"The firm was purchased by investors, and they revamped the board, excluding your mother and me from the management team."

"Did you both lose your positions?"

"No need to fret, dear. Let's make the most of our time together."

I overheard the whole discussion. Ashley's parents were let go from their jobs, as a consequence of fulfilling her desire. From the other side of the room, Jonah shifts beneath his blanket, raising it slightly to observe the commotion in the room.

"Sam!" He whispered. "Are they Ashley's parents?"

I gave a silent nod in response to his question. "Her wish was granted?"

Observing Ashley enjoy her parents' affection was truly comforting. It showcased a side of Ashley that was less familiar to me. She was laughing and playing in the room, interacting with her dad, as her mom carefully adjusted the hat she wore.

"I will do your hair and dress you like a princess from now on." Ashley's mother said.

"Bella and Victoria not coming?"

"Regrettably, they won't be with us any longer. We needed to trim down on non-essential costs. Now that we're available, I'll be the one managing your hair care."

At that moment, the man dressed as a butler joined the conversation. "Should I start packing my belongings too, madam?" Henry asked.

Ashley's father laid his hand on Henry's shoulder. "You've been a member of this family for years. I want to be upfront with you; there may come a time soon when we'll have to discuss adjusting your salary."

Henry smiled and embraced Ashley's dad "You've not only given me a roof over my head but also food on my plate. As far as I'm concerned, that's more than I could ever ask for."

Observing this exchange, a sense of warmth spread through me. The fulfillment of Ashley's wish had led to some tough decisions for her parents, necessitating a few compromises. However, the silver lining was unmistakably clear - the family had come together in a way that exceeded all expectations. This beautiful turn of events sparked a hope in me that Ashley would now see The Godmother in a new light, not as a threat but as a helping hand.