Once a year, in some little-known part of Eastern Europe, at the last light of dawn, the Wishing Market would appear in a hidden clearing in a forest. It was a vibrant place, full of colour, laughter and murmuring; a maze of tents where all sorts of magical objects could be found. The gypsies who conglomerated there, however, always warned their visitors: "Every wish fulfilled has its price".
Andrés, a young dreamer of barely eighteen, came to the market with a heavy heart. He had spent years longing for a life different from the one offered by the fields where his home was located. Disillusioned by routine, his dreams seemed as distant as the stars in the sky.
-Have I heard that I can find what I want here? -Andrés asked a group of gypsies in a shop, while curiously admiring the various objects on offer to the public.
An old gypsy woman, with sparkling eyes and silver hair, approached him with an enigmatic smile.
-What do you want, young man? -she asked, in a voice that sounded like a warm whisper in contrast to the cool night air.
-I want an object that will fulfil any wish! -replied Andrew, without hesitation.
The old woman looked at him intently.
-Every wish fulfilled has a price to pay, young man. -replied the old woman.
-As long as my wish is fulfilled, whatever the price is, and I can pay it, I will gladly accept it. -Andres replied, in a tone of voice that revealed the vain desires in his heart.
At those words, the old woman's eyes sparkled and her wrinkled face broke into a mischievous smile.
-The most powerful artefact in this place is the Mirror of Truth. -said the old woman.
-It will show you what you most desire, but remember young man: what you long for will not always be what you need. -she then added
Andres took a deep breath and, with a mixture of excitement and fear, handed over the money. The old woman searched through the objects and handed him a small mirror framed in metal, the surfaces of which glittered eerily.
-Use wisely and be careful what you ask for. -she warned.
Without any hesitation, Andrew looked in the mirror and thought «I wish for a life of adventure, far from this town».
Amazingly, in the blink of an eye, the world around him changed. Andrew found himself in a seaside town, with colourful boats bobbing in the harbour and a fresh air that promised endless possibilities. However, it didn't take him long to realise that his wish had not turned out as he had often imagined. Soon days turned into weeks and weeks into months, as he worked in a tavern, serving beers to strangers who often turned out to be rude, and also listening to the stories of the people he served, but not living his own.
One night, while clearing tables, he met a beautiful young woman named Lea, a free-spirited traveller who shared his own aspirations. The two had an interesting conversation, sharing their outlook on life and their hidden desires.
-Are there no other desires in your heart? -Lea asked, interested.
-I don't have an answer to that right now —Andrew replied, looking nostalgic—. My desires have become a life I didn't expect —He sighed and then continued—, I dreamed of adventure, but now I feel like I'm stuck in a rut I can't escape.
Lea looked at him with understanding, her gaze reflecting a spark of empathy that made him feel less alone in his disappointment.
-Adventures are not always what they seem, Andrew. Sometimes what we really need is not in what we want most, but in understanding and freedom. Have you ever wondered what that really means? -said Lea, not waiting for an answer to that final question.
Andrew was overwhelmed by the truth in Leah's words. He had sought adventure as a way to escape, but he had never stopped to think about what he was leaving behind.
-I suppose I thought that this way I would find my purpose, something to do with my life. -Andres replied, reflecting aloud.
-What if the desires you have are not the way forward, but rather, that your true happiness lies in what you have left behind? -asked Lea, in a suggestive tone.
Andrew fell silent. He had realised that he had only been seeking to escape his life rather than transform it. Adventure was fine, but it wasn't what he really needed. After falling into that truth, again in the blink of an eye he returned to the Wish Market and found himself in front of that mirror, right in the old gypsy woman's shop.
With a determined heart, he returned the magical object to the old woman, who received it with a smile.
-You have seen your wish and you don't want it, but not only that; you have learned a valuable lesson. -She said, in a soft tone of voice.
Andrew felt his weight lighten, he was ready to leave that place, but suddenly when he looked at the old woman's face, he realised it was the same as Lea's, only with many years more years and silver hair.
-I wanted so much a life of adventure away from this place, but it's not what I really need. -Andrew said, convinced that the answer lay not in changing his surroundings, but in changing his perspective and his way of thinking.
The old woman smiled, understanding what the young Andrew had meant by those words.
-The mirror has shown you a truth that you must never forget, young man. What you need most may not involve escape, but finding what is missing inside you. -said the old woman.
Andrew nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination.
-You are quite right, now I just want to learn to find happiness here, in my present life, and make the most of every day I have. -Andrew finally replied.
The mirror shone brightly once more, and although there was no palpable change, the young man felt that a deeper journey had begun. The colours of the marketplace began to fade before his eyes, leaving only an empty place, but in his heart he carried a new desire: the desire to live authentically.
After that day, Andres felt more comfortable at home and transformed the fields into his adventure. He began to cultivate new ideas in his mind, sharing stories and dreams with those around him. He made his life a story.
In time, the wish market became a fond memory, and he also learned that it was not the fulfilment of wishes that had led him to a new world, but the willingness to search within himself, until he found meaning in the life he had.
- Illustrative image generated with Bing.com
- The story was written in Spanish as it is my native language and translated for the Ink Well with DeepL.com (free version).
Click aqui para leer en idioma original
Una vez al año, en algún lugar poco conocido de Europa del este, al caer la última luz del sol, el Mercado de los Deseos aparecía en un claro oculto de un bosque. Era un lugar vibrante, repleto de colores, risas y murmullos; un laberinto de carpas donde se podían encontrar toda clase de objetos mágicos. Sin embargo, los gitanos que allí se conglomeran, siempre advertían a sus visitantes: "Cada deseo cumplido tiene su precio".
Andrés, era un joven soñador de apenas dieciocho años, quien llegó al mercado con el corazón pesado. Había pasado años deseando una vida distinta a la que le ofrecían los campos donde se encontraba su hogar. Desilusionado por la rutina, sus sueños parecían tan distantes como las estrellas en el cielo.
—¿He escuchado que aquí puedo encontrar lo que quiero? —preguntó Andrés, a un grupo de gitanos que se encontraban en una tienda, al mismo tiempo que admiraba curiosamente, los distintos objetos que allí ofrecían al público.
Una anciana gitana, con ojos chispeantes y cabellos de plata, se acercó a él con una sonrisa enigmática.
—¿Qué deseas, joven? —preguntó, con una voz que parecía un cálido susurro que contrastaba con el aire fresco de la noche.
—¡Quiero un objeto que cumpla cualquier deseo! —respondió Andrés, sin dudar.
La anciana lo miró con atención.
—Cada deseo cumplido tiene un precio que pagar, joven —replicó la anciana.
—Mientras mi deseó se cumpla, cualquiera que sea el precio y yo pueda pagarlo, gustosamente lo aceptaré. —contestó Andrés, con un tono de voz que dejaba ver los deseos vanidosos que había en su corazón.
Al escuchar aquellas palabras, los ojos de la anciana brillaron y su arrugado rostro, se dibujó una sonrisa maliciosa.
—El artefacto más poderoso de este lugar es el "Espejo de la Verdad" —dijo la anciana—. Te mostrará lo que más deseas, pero recuerda jóven: lo que anhelas, no siempre será lo que necesitas.
Andrés respiró profundamente y, con una mezcla de entusiasmo y miedo, entregó el dinero de pago. La anciana, busco entre los objetos y le dio un pequeño espejo enmarcado en metal, cuyas superficies brillaban de manera inquietante.
—Usa con sabiduría —advirtió la mujer—, y ten cuidado con lo que pides.
Sin ningún tipo de dudas, Andrés se miró en el espejo y pensó «Deseo una vida de aventuras, lejos de este pueblo».
Sorprendentemente en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, el mundo a su alrededor cambió. Andrés, se encontró en una localidad costera, con barcos de colores meciéndose en el puerto y un aire fresco que prometía infinitas posibilidades. Sin embargo, no tardó mucho tiempo en darse cuenta de que su deseo, no habia resultado como muchas veces lo había imaginado. Pronto los días se convirtieron en semanas y las semanas en meses, mientras trabajaba en una taberna, sirviendo cervezas a forasteros que muchas veces resultaban ser groseros, y también escuchando historias de las personas a quienes atendía, pero sin vivir las suyas propias.
Una noche, mientras limpiaba las mesas, conoció a joven hermosa llamada Lea, una viajera de espíritu libre que compartía sus propias aspiraciones. Ambos sostuvieron una interesante conversación, compartiendo su forma de ver la vida y sus más ocultos deseos.
—¿No hay más deseos en tu corazón? —preguntó Lea, interesada.
—Ahora mismo no tengo una respuesta para ello —respondio Andrés, con aire nostálgico—. Mis deseos se han convertido en una vida que no esperaba—Suspiró y luego prosiguió—. Soñé con aventuras, pero ahora siento que estoy atrapado en una rutina de la que no puedo escapar.
Lea lo miró con comprensión, su mirada reflejaba una chispa de empatía que lo hizo sentir menos solo en su desilusión.
—Las aventuras no siempre son lo que parecen, Andrés. A veces, lo que realmente necesitamos no se encuentra en lo que más deseamos, sino en el entendimiento y la libertad. ¿Te has preguntado qué significa eso realmente? —dijo Lea, sin esperar respuesta a esa pregunta final.
Andrés se sintió sobrecogido por la verdad que emanaba de las palabras de Lea. Había buscado la aventura como una forma de escapar, pero nunca se detuvo a pensar en lo que dejaba atrás.
—Supongo que pensé que de esta manera encontraría mi propósito, algo que hacer con mi vida —contestó Andrés, reflexionando en voz alta.
—¿Y si los deseos que tienes no son el camino a seguir, sino más bien, que tú verdadera felicidad se encuentra en aquello que has dejado atras? —pregunto Lea, con tono de sugerencia.
Andrés hizo silencio. Había comprendido que solo estado buscando escapar de su vida en lugar de transformarla. La aventura estaba bien, pero no era lo que realmente necesitaba. Luego de caer en esa verdad, nuevamente en un abrir y cerrar de ojos volvió all Mercado de los Deseos y se encontró frente a aquel espejo, justo en la tienda de la anciana gitana.
Con el corazón decidido, devolvió el objeto mágico a la anciana, quien lo recibió sonriente.
—Has visto tu deseo y no lo quieres—dijo ella con un tono suave—, pero no solo eso; has aprendido una valiosa lección.
Andrés sintió que su peso se aligero, estaba listo para marcharse de aquel lugar, pero de pronto al mirar el rostro de aquella anciana, se dio cuenta era igual al de Lea, solo que con muchos años mas y el cabello plateado.
—Tanto deseaba una vida llena de aventuras lejos de este lugar, pero no es lo que realmente necesito —dijo Andrés, convencido de que la respuesta no estaba en cambiar su entorno, sino en cambiar su perspectiva y su forma pensar.
La anciana sonrió, entendiendo lo que el jóven Andrés había querido expresar con aquellas palabras.
—El espejo te ha mostrado una verdad que nunca debes olvidar, joven —dijo la anciana—. Lo que más necesitas puede que no implique escapar, sino encontrar lo que te falta dentro de ti.
Andrés asintió, sintiendo un renovado sentido de determinación.
—Tiene usted mucha razón, ahora solo deseo aprender a encontrar la felicidad aquí, en mi vida actual, y aprovechar al máximo cada día que tenga. —contesto finalmente Andrés.
El espejo brilló intensamente una vez más, y aunque no se produjo un cambio palpable, el jóven sintió que había comenzado un viaje más profundo. Los colores del mercado comenzaron a desvanecerse antes sus ojos, quedando solo un lugar vacío, pero en su corazón llevaba un nuevo deseo: el deseo de vivir auténticamente.
Luego de ese día, Andrés se sintió más cómodo en su hogar y transformó los campos en su aventura. Empezó a cultivar en su mente nuevas ideas, compartiendo historias y sueños con aquellos a su alrededor. Hizo de su vida una historia.
Con el tiempo, el mercado de los deseos se convirtió en un grato recuerdo, y también aprendió que no era el cumplir los deseos lo que lo había llevado a un mundo nuevo, sino la voluntad de buscar en su interior, hasta encontrar sentido en la vida que tenia.
- Imagen ilustrativa generada con Bing.com
- La historia fue escrita en español por ser mi idioma natal y traducida para The Ink Well con DeepL.com (versión gratuita)
If only people can understand that this life at times is a place where we are capable of trading our desires for things of this world. Thank you so much for sharing this. This was actually profound
Sometimes it's difficult to accept that we live in a world where we must make concessions and compromises to get what we want. Usually, we find that what we miss is that to which we paid very little attention when we had it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride." Most of us wish for the unthinkable without asking if we truly need it. Even if we do, is it at that moment?
What we seek or want can be carved out of our present situation. We don't just see it.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with lessons
It is true, we often yearn for things without pausing to reflect on their true relevance to our lives. Wisdom lies in recognizing that what we need may be very different from what we think we desire. It is a valuable reminder that our aspirations should evolve with our circumstances and personal growth. Sometimes, true wealth lies in appreciating what we already have. Thank you for sharing this comment so rich in meaning.
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hello @wlin, our screening software has flagged that AI is detected in several areas of this piece. Did you by chance use AI to rephrase or rewrite any part of your original Spanish text? Thank you, The Ink Well.
Greetings, @theinkwell.
The answer to the question asked is absolutely NO. I am against the use of AI for writing or rephrasing, besides the fact that it is forbidden in the rules. On the other hand, I don't see any sense in doing so, since that way we would be inhibiting ourselves from using our own imagination and I think the main idea of doing this and publishing here in this space, is to expect grammatical corrections in the story, corrections in the dialogues and character development, besides the corrections of scene introductions, since that's the main reason why I subscribe to this community.
I only use the free translator from DeepL.com, and I don't know what the final result of the grammar in the text is like, since my command of the English language is very little. As for the text I write in Spanish, I only use the spell checker of the text editor I use, which is Google Documents. Before publishing any writing, it is revised and corrected many times by myself and after that, I ask for help from my wife or any other person, since many times there are things that we omit ourselves.
In my very personal opinion, AI is just software that tries to imitate the capabilities of a real person.
If there is no objection on your part, I would like to know which parts of the writing the software generates or reformulates with AI?
hello @wlin thank you for your replies. There were several areas of your story that flagged. We cannot share them all but the last two paragraphs in particular were flagged, if that helps at all. Your story didn't flag as one that had been generated by AI, simply one that may have had AI input in terms of AI being used to enhance it or make corrections. Nothing is infallible although our software is pretty good on the whole and opens up good conversations with authors. I have found that narrative within stories that seeks to be lightly descriptive and generalistic in nature, rather than more specific and detailed, is more likely to flag as AI. The words and flow may feel nice but they don't add the necessary depth to the story. They tend to summarise a feeling or experience, rather than show it. We understand in your story that he spent time working in a place for a while that he realised did not fulfill him, but it would be more impactful if you wrote a scene showing him working and his interactions with customers that reflect his feelings and actions while serving them; that show an interaction that resulted in him bearing the brunt of someone's rudeness and his reflections on this, perhaps juxtaposed against an experience he remembers from home where the outcome of similar interactions is met with more peace and love. Perhaps a scene where someone shares a wonderful life experience that makes him feel bitter sweet as he mourns his own stagnation and unfulfilled dreams. I would recommend you take a look at our resources on fiction writing. There are links withing this article to other articles. Look more specifically at the articles on Show don't Tell and Developing Memorable Characters. I hope that makes sense to you. You have a lot to offer with your writing. Please keep honing your craft and sharing in The Ink Well. You have a skill there that would be great to develop!
Thank you @TheInKWell, for the information and links shared. I will gladly review and read the posts on them. I am here to learn, and every input and recommendation in that regard will be greatly appreciated by me.
Also, I understand about developing the scenes more and not making them so general, that makes a lot of sense.
"Less generalist and more specific and detailed" is the key.
Thank you.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
🙂👍
It is surprising how a tool can have an impact on the valuation of hard work. Before my doubts, I took the trouble to use an AI detection scanner in my writing and surprisingly the result shows a percentage of less than 50% in a small section of the writing, but what surprises me most of all is that this result is on commonly used words, in which there is no complexity of any kind, I can't help thinking that these types of software only have the capacity to simulate human thought, because at the end of the day their parameters are defined for that purpose, but there is no irrefutable guarantee that I would have actually used a tool of that type.
Critical thinking in this regard should be more objective, because before falling into preconceived ideas, it is better to analyse and evaluate different perspectives before making a decision or issuing an opinion.