I Made a Wish When the New Year Bell Rang

Summary

On the last day of December, Mom took my five-year-old hand and led me out of the orphanage. She named me Eve.

“Eve, your sister’s name is Hope. Your birthday is on New Year’s Day. It symbolizes a new beginning.”

“So, every year on your birthday, you must make a wish. A wish means a fresh start, something full of hope.”

I nodded hard, my teeth chattering from the cold.

Back then, I didn’t understand. For every wish I made, Mom would take something from me.

At six, I wished to see fireworks, and she took my bone marrow.

At seven, I wished for a doll, and she took a kidney.