I still remember that night clearly, It was like one of those memories that my brain just wouldn't throw away no matter how many years went by, I was pretty young then The kind of age where everything you hear in school sounds like the truth.
And that day during break time one of my classmates Emeka I think, had said something that stuck with me.
“Do you know if you see a shooting star and make a wish it will come true?”
The way he said it with a lot of confidence I didn't even question it, I just took it home like it was information.
So that night I was sitting outside with my mom, She was sitting on a plastic chair peeling Egusi for our dinner the next day, I was just lying on the floor staring at the sky.
“Mummy " I called out to her
She answered without looking up. "Yes?”
“Is it true that if you see a shooting star and make a wish it will come to pass?”
Abd That made her stop, She looked at me properly this time, One of those looks that meant she was about to say something a bit ,a bit playful.
“Who told you that?" she asked.
“Emeka " I said quickly "He said people wish on stars and it always works.”
She smiled and shook her head then said, "People say a lot of things.”
That answer didn't satisfy me.
“So it is not true?" I asked again.
She looked up at the sky this time, Then she said, "Well… it might not be exactly true.. Wishing is not bad, It gives you hope.”
At that age I didn't care about hope, i wanted results, I wanted magic.
So I kept staring at the sky waiting, i didn't know what I was waiting for, I knew if I saw that shooting star I had to be veey ready.
Some Minutes passed, Maybe even an hour, My mom had gone inside. I refused to move, I was determined.
Then it happened.
A quick streak of light flashed across the sky.
For a second I froze. My brain was like "Wait… was that it?”
Then I jumped up.
“That’s it! That’s it!" I shouted, even though nobody was outside to hear me.
My heart started beating, This was my moment.
But then I had another problem… what did I want to wish for?
My mind was running over the place.
New toys? Good grades? To never get punished again in school?
I didn't know which one to pick, Everything felt important.
Finally I just closed my eyes, Said quietly "I want to always be happy… and I want Mummy to always be okay.”
That was it, That was my wish.
I opened my eyes slowly looking up again, I was expecting something to happen, Maybe another star, a sign.
Nothing happened.
The sky just stayed the same, calm. Quiet, Normal.
I stood there for a while feeling a bit confused.
“Is that all?" I muttered to myself.
I eventually went inside where my mom was already lying down.
“Mummy I saw it!" I said excitedly.
“Saw what?" she asked.
“A shooting star! I made a wish!”
She smiled again that soft smile. "Okay… what did you wish for?”
“I can’t tell you " I said quickly. "If I tell you it won’t come true.”
She laughed a little. "Who told you that again?”
“Emeka " I replied.
She just shook her head. "That boy has a lot of information.”
Then she pulled me closer. Said, "Don’t worry, Whether it is the star, not just keep believing in good things.”
At that time I didn't fully understand what she meant.
Now thinking back I get it.
Maybe it wasn’t really about the star.
Maybe it was, about that moment… that feeling of hope of believing that something good could happen just because you wished for it.
Funny enough even though I can’t say if that wish came true because of a star or not… I can’t deny that somehow things did turn out okay.
So till today anytime I look up at the night sky and see it shining quietly a small part of me still remembers that kid lying on the ground waiting for magic.
Honestly… I don’t think that part of me ever really left.