A long time back, when the earth was still young; when the crisp, fresh air swept in from the North and the winters were long, there once stood a house, quietly tucked into the winter snow.
The small house looked very peaceful from the outside. It was a dream house. Full of color and a peaceful silence on the outside, with it’s cozy nordic style roof blanked in a rolling layer of snow. Out of the chimney, smoke rose into the heavens as if it were carrying the wishes and prayers from those inside. The presence of young sun, nestled still halfway in the snow, lulled any noise to sleep. Hung on the front door, was a large wooden cut-out of a toad.
Inside the house was chaos. As Maria walked into the first room, her nine-year-old eyes filled with excitement. A unicorn with rainbow hair pranced down the hallway toward the kitchen. Riding on its back was a small leprechaun. Under his left arm he clutched a half empty pot of gold and in his right hand, held high was a magical silver wand with a pink star on top. I can grant you two wishes. The leprechaun said, struggling to keep the Unicorn under control. Maria's eyes lit up with excitement. I want... I want… she thought hard. These wishes had to be good. I want a bathtub full of churros! She exclaimed. With her first wish granted, Maria dove into the bread and cinnamon and sugar mess in the bathtub, her young mind searching for another wish.
With her stomach full and a ravenous green fire in her eyes, Maria told the leprechaun that she wanted to live forever. With her wish granted, Maria slowly watched as all her friends got old and died. Maria got old with them, but she could never die. Her skin hung loose on her old rattling skeleton, but she did not die. Her hair turned white and fell out, but she did not die. Her teeth rotted and fell out, but still she could not die. The greed of her wish had finally consumed her. She shriveled and shrunk down into a toad and on warm summer nights if you listen close, you can still hear Maria’s sad ancient groans as she begs to be set free.