A Magical Feather in the Graduation cap. Destiny Pre-written or Re-written

Disclaimer: This is a fictional story-article.

I live in a magical world. Full of mystery and rituals. A very important ritual that is followed here is the Graduation cap throwing ceremony. We are required to throw our caps up into the air and as they soar back down, they’ll morph into an occupation. It may be an army hat or a baseball cap or even a helmet for a space suit.

Because of it people never really take their future seriously and just rely on the cap for future determination. I have mixed feelings about this. I felt that our future and our career is the one thing of utmost priority. People should be certain about it, and must have some planned goals and fixed aspirations in order to be truly successful.

But no one really cared. So I followed my own advice. I had my future planned. My priorities fixed and standards set. But nonetheless, the mystery behind the ritual always appealed to me, And I looked forward to my graduation day.

The graduation was less than 12 hours away, when the anxiety hit me. What if the morphed cap did not match with my plans ? What would I do then?! Would my society allow me to neglect the ritual’s future telling and follow my own path ?

These questions bothered me all night, and I couldn’t sleep well.

It was finally graduation day. ‘Time for the cap throwing ritual’ my teacher announced with enthusiasm. I hesitantly took my graduation hat into my hands and got into position.

‘3..2..1 THROW !’

I threw it as high as I could and watched it go higher and higher like all the others.

‘Time for the morph ! Close your eyes students.’

We all followed our last instruction. I could hear the sound of magic sparkling and cracking. It was awe-strucking and scary at the same time.

‘Open, and spread your hands out’ we got the instructions

As I followed, I looked at my buddy James and saw him hold a McDonald's employee hat. He was clearly upset. He saw me looking and gave me an accepting nod.

I see my friend Lily next to him, I noticed she held a pilot cap. She was overjoyed. I was happy for her. She had always been fascinated by the sky, and now she could actually glide it herself.

I looked around me and saw that everyone held a cap, except for me. Why did my cap not come back? Was it a punishment for not believing in the ritual?

I stared at my hand wondering what was supposed to happen now. Lily ran over to me, taking leaps and spewing out an apology half heartedly. She enthusiastically shows me her hat before putting it on her head with a smirk. I laugh and congratulate her.

It’s been an hour since I have been staring at the sky. I have given up hope now. I still have a planned future ahead of me. But It feels like I didn’t get a green light for me to pursue it.

On my way back home I noticed an envelope with my name on it just lying on the road. I open it and find a note inside.

It read,

“There’s no cap symbolising the ability to choose. Look inside yourself, there’s your green light. Go live your dream, Chase destiny !”

I got the green light, from within and from above.