“I wanted to make a place where wishes could live forever. A place where they could be tucked away for safekeeping.” My throat constricts. He reaches into his pocket again and pulls out another key—this one tiny. I watch with curiosity as he reaches for a miniature box resting in the corner of the huge container. “Now this one.” His voice softens. “This one’s my favorite.” He places a yellowed scrap of paper in my hand and time slows. I’m convinced I’ve stopped breathing. “My mom found it in her things,” he says. “It’s from the night of the wish burning. She gave it to me last week.” I nod,
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