Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The protagonist finds a one-dollar coin on a bus and interprets it as a sign of good luck. Her job and relationship initially appear secure.

Coin Found on Bus — The protagonist picks up a one-dollar coin on a bus. Location: Bus
Luck Is Expected — The protagonist believes the coin will bring good luck. Location: Bus
Career Appears Secure — The protagonist initially has a great job. Location: Workplace
Boyfriend Gets Promoted — The protagonist's boyfriend has just been promoted. Location: Unspecified

The apparent promise of luck reverses sharply. The protagonist loses her job, relationship, shares, and dog.

Job Is Lost — The protagonist loses the job that seemed secure. Location: Workplace
Relationship Collapses — The protagonist loses the relationship with the boyfriend. Location: Unspecified
Shares Are Lost — The protagonist also loses her shares. Location: Unspecified
Dog Dies — The protagonist's dog dies, deepening the series of losses. Location: Unspecified

After somehow ending up in the harbour, the protagonist wakes in hospital. She discovers that the coin is connected to bad luck.

Ends Up in Harbour — The protagonist somehow ends up in the harbour. Location: Harbour
Hospital Recovery — The protagonist discovers herself in hospital after reaching the harbour. Location: Hospital
Coin Brings Bad Luck — The coin is revealed to be a bad-luck coin. Location: Hospital

A note provides a ritual involving a peeled apple and a wish. The protagonist uses it to ask for a return to the past.

Coin's Original Owner — The coin is identified as having been dropped by a network supervisor. Location: Unspecified
Longstanding Love Revealed — The network supervisor is revealed to have loved the protagonist for a long time. Location: Unspecified
Instructional Note Found — A note explains how a wish can be made to come true. Location: Hospital
Apple Ritual Explained — The note instructs the protagonist to peel an apple before midnight. Location: Hospital
Apple Is Peeled — The protagonist follows the note and peels an apple before midnight. Location: Unspecified
Wish Made at Midnight — The protagonist wishes to return three days into the past. Location: Unspecified

The wish sends the protagonist three days backward. Although she avoids the coin, it remains attached to her shoe.

Wish Made at Midnight — The protagonist wishes to return three days into the past. Location: Unspecified
Time Moves Backward — The wish sends the protagonist back in time by three days. Location: Unspecified
Coin Carefully Avoided — After returning in time, the protagonist carefully avoids the coin. Location: Bus
Coin Sticks to Shoe — Despite avoiding it, the coin becomes stuck to the bottom of the protagonist's shoe. Location: Bus

Story Breakdown

The Lucky Discovery — The protagonist finds a coin and initially interprets it as a positive omen.
- Bus Coin — A one-dollar coin is picked up on a bus.
- Hopeful Interpretation — The coin is believed to promise good luck.
Initial Prosperity — The protagonist's circumstances appear stable before the reversal begins.
- Secure Employment — The protagonist has a great job.
- Boyfriend Promoted — The boyfriend has just received a promotion.
Cascade of Losses — The expected luck becomes a sequence of severe personal and financial setbacks.
- Job Disappears — The protagonist loses her job.
- Personal Losses — She loses her relationship, shares, and dog.
Harbour Revelation — The protagonist reaches a crisis point and learns that the coin is harmful.
- Hospital Awakening — She finds herself in hospital after somehow ending up in the harbour.
- Bad Luck Explained — The coin is identified as a bad-luck coin.
The Midnight Wish — A note presents a ritual that may make a wish come true.
- Apple Ritual — The protagonist is instructed to peel an apple before midnight.
- Return Three Days — She wishes to go back three days in time.
The Coin Persists — The attempted correction fails to remove the coin's influence.
- Avoidance Attempt — The protagonist carefully avoids picking up the coin again.
- Shoe Attachment — The coin nevertheless sticks to the bottom of her shoe.