Preface

As Lily wandered through the sun-dappled woods, her fingers trailed over the bark of ancient trees. Her imagination ran wild with tales of magic, adventure, and hidden treasures. It was in a small clearing, overgrown with wildflowers, that she spotted it---a smooth, glimmering stone half-buried in the moss. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen, shimmering with an iridescent glow that seemed to pulse with the heart of the forest.

Curiosity sparked within her, and she knelt down to pick it up. The moment her fingers wrapped around the stone, a warm sensation spread through her hand, and a gentle voice echoed in her mind, "Make a wish."

Lily's heart raced. She pondered her options, remembering the stories she'd read about wishes gone wrong. Should she wish for a mountain of candy? No, that would spoil her dinner. Should she wish for a great adventure? But adventures usually came with danger.

In a moment of clarity, she thought of her older brother, Andrew, who had been feeling lonely since their friends had moved away. "I wish for Andrew to have lots of friends to play with, like I do" she said aloud, her voice barely above a whisper.

As the last words left her lips, the stone flared brightly, and in an instant, the warmth in her hand faded away. It felt as though the forest held its breath for a moment. Lily grinned, a giddy excitement coursing through her as she tossed the stone back into the underbrush, hoping it would bring someone else joy in the future.

With her heart light, she raced home, eager to see if her wish would come true. She burst through the door, her mother glancing up with a smile. "Hi, sweetie! How was your day?"

"Mom! Andrew's in the backyard!" she shouted, not bothering to wait for a response. She dashed outside, her bare feet slapping against the cool grass.

To her surprise, Andrew was playing tag with a girl. Lily had never seen her brother play with a girl before. They were playing tag and giggling as they chased one another around the swings. His face lit up with joy, and he waved at her, calling out, "Lily! Look! I made a new friend!"

Her heart swelled with happiness. The wish had come true! She watched as Andrew ran and played, his laughter mingling with the girl. In that moment, Lily felt a sense of peace. She knew she had done something meaningful---not just for her brother, but for herself, too. Wishing for someone else's happiness had brought her an unexpected joy.

As the sun began to set and the golden light cast long shadows across the yard, Lily joined the games, her heart warm with the magic of the stone's gift. And somewhere deep in the woods, buried within the moss, the wishing stone lay dormant, waiting for its next adventure.

Chapter 1

Andrew, Lily's brother was a tall, lanky boy who spent most of his time alone, immersed in the vibrant worlds of his video games. He preferred the quiet company of his virtual adventures to the bustling noise of the outside world. But his life was about to change in a way he never expected.

One sunny afternoon, as he was walking home from school, a bubbly girl named Suzanne, with a big smile and even bigger personality, approached him. "Hey, Andrew!" Suzanne said, falling into step beside him. "I've seen you around. Want to hang out sometime?"

Andrew, unused to such direct friendliness, hesitated but nodded. "Sure, I guess."

"Can I call you Andy?" Susanne asked?