A Chance to Wish

Too deep? Not deep enough?

Sunlight falls into the stream where wishes can be granted once a
year, but only once in a lifetime for each wisher. The stream of tears
trickles endlessly down the face of the land, washing away the filth
that has accumulated over the year. Now the wishers come to lay their
desires before the well of these tears.

Among the wishers is one who holds back. Her golden curls fall in
front of her face, covering the scars upon her cheeks. Those in front
of her move aside as if they feel her need is greater than theirs as
she walks to the waters edge. She dips a finger tentatively in the
water and raises it to her cheek, dabbing a single drop on each before
bowing her head and letting her own tears slide down her cheeks to
drip into the pool. Then she rises and walks away.

They watch her go. Those she passes on her way from the water examine
her face. Everyone awaits the miracle. They all expect to see her
scarred face returned to a former beauty. Their desires are not her
own, for she smiles as she looks at them. Her scars shall go nowhere,
but her heart shall be full. She shall love and for every ounce of
love she gives, love will be returned to her.

Thus she shall be loved by those who truly see her. The waters
diminish and fade away. The scars still grace her cheeks. Those who
made their wishes glory in their wealth, health, and wisdom. Time
makes wealth disappear, health fail again, and robs wisdom from fading
minds, but one's love is renewed each year as the spring wells up
again. Her face is marred but her heart beats with a beauty that draws
in anyone who is touched by it.