after / eighteenth wish

After, the air didn't quite smell the same. Why didn't it smell the same? Actually, I just said that because it sounded rather dramatic. After was definitely not dramatic. Neither was before, nor the inbetween. And I knew exactly why the air smelt different: eighteen candles had just extinguished themselves into my face. I coughed and opened my eyes only to have someone pop a camera flash in my adjusting pupils. Hi, could we please refrain from said abuse? Awesome, thanks ... Jerk.
When that little blind spot of color disappeared and I could finally see again, I was greeted by too many big bright smiles pointing right at me. Why are you smiling? Why are you applauding? I've definitely mastered the technique. Quick breath in, holditholditholdit, now blow! If I get 'em all at once, maybe my wish'll come true.
Oh, right, my wish. That's why this moment wasn't so dramatic anymore. I didn't wish for anything.
When I was little, I'd think real hard about my wish. It had to be good. No ponies, no Barbie houses. I don't remember what each of my wishes were, but every year I'd wish for world peace. Wow, what a kid. What a selfless kid. Actually, I thought that if I only wished for myself, God would send me to hell. Sometimes though I'd make the worst run-on sentences and add on a million wishes and go on for longer than necessary and everyone would tell me to hurry up and I thought I was being sneaky. But world peace was always in there somewhere. An afterthought or a beforethought. But there nonetheless.
What was I doing wishing for world peace? I was five. My world was my house, my school, and the car ride inbetween. Where was the war? the turmoil? the suffering? But I wished for it everytime.
I wished for world peace on everything, twirling dandelions, fading rainbows, falling stars. I even squeezed my eyes shut in concentration, to add to the effect? to make sure God heard me? God. So, I was praying. Is a wish a prayer? A special prayer?
Did it matter if they never came true? Because they never do. They never do.

Time to cut the cake.