“...well, shit.”
That was all Jon could think, all he could mutter when Karyn’s words cut through the air.
He swallowed, backing up a step, his shoulders hitting the cold tile wall of the restroom. “Wait—you… you remember old Jon? Umm… me?”
Karyn’s arms folded tight against her chest. She was taller than him now, older, and her sharp eyes narrowed with something that was equal parts anger and grief. Her presence loomed, and Jon—Jonny—felt small in a way he hadn’t since this new life had started.
She stepped further inside, shutting the door behind her with a heavy click. “Of course I remember. I made a wish too. When I did this—” she jabbed a finger at her chest, then lifted a strand of her blond hair between two fingers, “—I made sure nothing could change me mentally. Not me. Not how I remember. Not who I am. And I’m glad I did.”
Her eyes flicked over him, dripping with bitterness. “Because now I get to see you. Like this.” She gestured at him—the smaller frame, the cute face, the bright energy radiating off of him. “This fake, happy, perfect Jonny.”
Jon winced, but forced a smile. “Hey… I’m much better like this, thanks. And honestly? I don’t like how you’re scaring me right now. You look pissed like I stole something, but… I’m not sorry. I like this. I’m happier. Old Jon? He was boring. Miserable. No wonder the only person he ever hung out with was you. Nobody else wanted to.”
Her face tightened, but he pressed on, voice rising.
“Me? I’m better. I’ve got real friends. I’ve got Mikey—I mean, my brother actually likes me now. I’m not a shadow, I’m not invisible, I’m not sad. I’m loved. So, no—you don’t get to be angry. You don’t get to make this sound like a bad thing. This life is mine.”
Karyn’s eyes flashed. Her voice climbed, cracking with rage and pain. “But it’s not real, Jon! None of it! You’re not thirteen—you’re sixteen! You’re my best friend! And now you’re just… what? Smiling, pretending you don’t care? Like I don’t matter? Like we don’t matter?”
Her words hit him harder than he wanted to admit. He saw the old Jon in her voice, in her tears, in the way she trembled. He felt sorry for her—for the first time since this started, he felt the weight of what he had left behind.
He sighed, shoulders slumping. “Look… I get it. Kind of. Old Jon… he made me keep his memories when he wished. So I could still know. Still remember what it was like to be him, even while being me. But I’m not going back. This life is perfect, Karyn. I don’t want to throw it away.”
Before she could answer, the door creaked open.
“Jonny? Are you okay in there?”
It was his mom’s voice—warm, concerned. She stepped partway in, eyes landing on Karyn with instant suspicion. “Is this woman bothering you, honey?”
Jonny froze. His instinct screamed yes, yes she is. But then he looked at Karyn’s face—so raw, so upset, so unlike anyone else in this bright, polished life. And with old Jon’s memories still lodged in the back of his mind, he felt a pang of guilt. His mom didn’t even remember Karyn. To her, this was just some random girl.
“No, Mom,” Jonny said softly. “She’s just… asking where the bus stop is.”
His mom frowned, but nodded slowly. “All right. Stay close, sweetheart.”
Jonny stepped past Karyn, reaching for the safety of his mother’s hand. Ten meters between them now. Almost out the door. Almost free.
But something in him twisted. Something well new, with he had a good life now a loving live one where he is happy now, and a perfect life, and well could not think of any wish he wanted to do now with this life being well his and he like it. So his fingers brushed the rock in his pocket, warm and heavy knowing what he wanted... needed to do with knowing it would quiet the old Jon in his head and he can let go of his old boring miserable life, and live this one.
so he stopped smiling at his mom and said“Wait one minute, Mom,” he said suddenly. “She looked… sad. I want to give her something.”
He let go of his mother’s hand and walked back toward Karyn. She watched him with wary confusion, her anger faltering.
When he was close enough, Jonny pulled the stone out. It glimmered in the restroom light.
He whispered, so only she could hear:
“I wish that Karyn can't touch anything, do anything—say anything, touch anyone—that could mess with me or my perfect life. That she can’t hurt me. Or the me I am now. Or anyone I care about or even hate in this life... my life, and that she cannot use this stone or her voice or her body to do any of what i just said.”
The words were final. Heavy.
Then, louder, so his mom could hear, he forced a bright smile. “This is my good luck stone. I think… you should have it.”
He pressed the stone into Karyn’s hand.
Her eyes widened in shock. She looked at him like he’d just ripped the floor out from under her.
“Good luck,” Jonny said aloud. Then, quieter, his voice cold but certain: “We’re done. I don’t want to see you again. You can’t change me. You can’t change anyone around me. Take the stone. Have a better life than you and old Jon ever did.”
He turned before she could answer, walking straight back to his mom, sliding his smaller hand into hers and smiling.
“That was a nice thing to do, Jonny,” his mom said softly as they walked away.
“Yeah,” Jonny said, smiling wide. “She looked like she needed something to help her.”
The words carried back to Karyn like a knife. She stood frozen in the restroom doorway, staring down at the stone in her palm.
She had it, a way to fix her body.
But she had also lost Jon, her jon, and well for ever with the wish new jon made, but she looked down at the stone and thinking what is she going to do with it now?
