I was nervous all evening after that, not sure if everything would go to plan or if my wish to delay things had actually worked. At the very least I hadn’t changed (well, yet...), and I couldn’t see any pictures of kemonomimi around the house. I was quiet over dinner and when asked about it by my dad I just brushed him off saying I was tired due to it being the first day back at school, which he accepted without question. After food I retreated to my room and lay on my bed thinking about my wishes and wondering if I should tell Karyn. I dismissed that idea, as she’d probably tell me off for being so rash and for having made such a stupid wish in the first place. No, better to let her think that the new reality was real.
With that I paused, realising that my life would probably be slightly different even before the big change tomorrow and there was probably stuff that the me of that reality would know that the me of this one didn’t. I fixed that with yet another wish, wishing for a copy of those memories when I woke up tomorrow. With nothing better to do I picked up my new book and continued reading until it was time to turn in.
The next morning I awoke drenched in sweat and with a splitting headache. Bleary eyed, I staggered into the shower and proceeded to try and freshen up as best I could.
“Morning sweetie,” said mom as I headed back to my room, “Are you feeling okay?”
“Not sure,” I groaned, rubbing my head. She placed a hand on my forehead and shook her head.
“You feel a bit feverish, maybe you should stay home today.”
I shook my head “I’m feeling a bit better after that shower, and I think some paracetamol should take the edge off the headache.”
Mom shook her head “I don’t know...get dressed and have your breakfast. If you’re still feeling rough when it’s time to leave you can stay home today.”
I rolled my eyes, but agreed to it. As I went about my morning routine I started to feel a bit better and by the time it was time to leave I was still feeling bad, but felt functional enough to go to school. Mom insisted on taking my temperature, but relented when it came back as higher than normal, but still within the range for normal humans.
I walked to school on my own, Zoe taking a different route to meet up with her friends on the way, which I was grateful for. As I walked I kept rubbing my head and was sure I could feel two bumps there. And they felt like they were growing. So distracted was I by them that I didn’t notice the figure walking the other way down the lane until I walked right into them.
“Oof,” I gasped as I fell to the floor, “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” I looked up and saw that it was...
