"Can I try it Jon? I've been thinking about it a long time and I'm sure I won't screw anything up this time."
"I suppose," Jon said, reluctantly handing the rock to Karyn.
"Okay, I wish..."
Jennifer continued to admire her reflection in the mirror. Her long brown hair fell down loosely over the shoulders of her lacy white gown, and her cobalt eyes were positively glowing. Jen wasn't a vain person by nature, but even she had to admit how perfect she looked. As she sat there, slowly brushing the final snarls out of her, otherwise perfect hair, she thought about how perfect her life was right now, about the baby on the way, barely a bump at this point, and of course she thought about James. The man she was here to marry.
They'd been together for three of the best years of her life now, and eight months ago when he'd proposed, she'd said yes without thinking. She loved him with all her heart, and couldn't wait to spend the rest of her years with him.
"Come in," she said absentmindedly, barely hearing the gentle tapping on the door. A woman, twenty-six like Jen, stepped into the room. She had long blond hair, bright eyes and a rather impressive upper body filling out the burgandy gown she was wearing.
"Karyn," Jen said with a smile. She got up to hug her Maid of Honor, and best freind for as long as she could remember. To her surprise, the blond didn't hug her back. A little worried, Jennifer pulled back. The look on Karyn's face didn't make her feel any better. Sitting down, careful not to wrinkle her wedding gown, she motioned for her freind to do the same.
"What's wrong Kar?" she asked somberly.
Karyn didn't respond at first, but when she did it was like a floodgate opening, "My god, I am so so sorry..." her words were mixing with sobs now. "Shit Jon I never meant for it to get so far out of hand..."
"Jon?" Jen whispered, a little puzzled, "Who's..."
Karyn wasn't even paying attention now, "It was all fun and games you know..." the smile she was trying to force looked really out of place right now, "I just started making wishes and when I tried to fix them... God this is so fucked up Jon! I never meant... I just wanted... It was supposed to be... You know?"
By now, Jennifer was extremely worried about her freind. "Kar, slow down. You're not making any sense."
"I'm sorry," Karyn said, appearing to calm down a little. She reached into her purse and pulled something out, "Do you know what this is?"
"It looks like a rock," Jen said, not sure that things were taking a turn for the better.
"Its not just any rock," Karyn said in even tones. "It has the power to grant wishes."
"I see," Jen said softly, certain now that things hadn't taken a turn for the better.
"I know its hard to believe, but watch." Clutching the small rock she whispered, "I wish the carpet was blue."
Jen blinked as something got in her eye. When she looked again, the carpet was blue. "Oh my god," she whispered, "where did you get that Kar?"
"I stole it from you," she whispered in shame, "ten years ago."
"But I don't remember..."
"You wouldn't. I made you forget. I took it from you, made you forget about it, and messed up the rest of your life. You have no idea how sorry I am..."
"It can't be that bad Kar," Jen said with a reassuring smile. "We all do stupid things when we're that age, but look around. I'm getting married to the man I love, we have a baby on the way. I'd hardly say you messed up my life," Jen smiled, "whatever you think you did Kar, I forgive you."
"Your name's not Jennifer," Karyn said softly. "Your name is John and you weren't always a woman and you shouldn't be fucking pregnant!"
"What are you talking about Kar?" Jen was getting really uncomfortable really quickly now, "What do you mean I wasn't always a woman? Now you are starting to freak me out."
"I guess I should start at the beginining...
"Okay, I wish," Karyn turned her back and whispered so that John couldn't hear, "I wish that John would forget about this rock." She turned to look back at her freind. He looked a little dazed.
He smiled, "Well, I'd better be off to class." Without another word, he turned and left her standing there, holding the wishing rock.
If had known what the next decade would bring, she might have thrown it away, and tried to forget its power. She didn't know though, and with an unbelievable sense of power, she too headed off to class...
