The Last Wish

Lila had always been fascinated with the idea of making wishes. As a child, she would blow out birthday candles, toss coins into fountains, and make wishes on shooting stars. She believed in the power of wishes, that they had the ability to make dreams come true.

But as Lila grew older, she became disillusioned with the idea of wishes. She realized that life wasn't a fairytale, and that wishes didn't always come true. She stopped making wishes, and focused on the more tangible aspects of life.

Years passed, and Lila found herself in her mid-thirties. She had a successful career, a beautiful home, and a loving partner. She had everything she could ever want, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

One day, Lila stumbled upon an old fountain in the center of town. It was a beautiful fountain, adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering water. Lila felt a sudden urge to make a wish, to believe in the power of magic once again.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a penny. She closed her eyes and made her wish, tossing the penny into the fountain. She opened her eyes, and saw a figure standing beside her.

"Excuse me, miss," the figure said. "May I have a moment of your time?"

Lila turned to face the figure. It was an old man, with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes. He wore a tattered cloak and carried a staff in his hand.

"I couldn't help but notice you making a wish," the old man said. "May I ask what you wished for?"

Lila hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether or not to trust this stranger. But there was something about him that drew her in, something that made her feel safe.

"I wished for happiness," Lila said.

The old man smiled. "Ah, happiness. A noble wish, indeed. But do you know the price of happiness?"

Lila shook her head.

"The price of happiness is sacrifice," the old man said. "If you wish to be truly happy, you must be willing to give something up."

Lila frowned. "What do you mean?"

The old man gestured to the fountain. "Every wish has a consequence. Every wish requires a sacrifice. You must be willing to pay the price."

Lila looked at the fountain, and saw something shimmering beneath the water. She reached in and pulled out a small, golden key.

"What's this?" Lila asked.

"The key to your wish," the old man said. "Use it wisely, for it is your last wish."

Lila was confused. "My last wish?"

The old man nodded. "Yes. You have been granted one final wish, but be warned. This wish will come at a great cost. Are you willing to pay the price?"

Lila hesitated for a moment. She didn't know what the old man meant by a great cost, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency.

"Yes," Lila said. "I'm willing to pay the price."

The old man smiled. "Very well. Make your wish."

Lila closed her eyes and thought for a moment. She thought of all the things she had ever wanted, all the things that had eluded her. And then she made her wish.

"I wish to have a child," Lila said.

The old man nodded. "Very well. Your wish is granted."

And with that, the old man disappeared, leaving Lila alone with her thoughts.

Months passed, and Lila found out that she was pregnant. She was overjoyed.