Anne woke up the next morning feeling… different.
Not in a dramatic, I've-just-transformed-into-a-superhero kind of way. She still had the same messy auburn hair and the same oversized glasses perched on her nose. But inside? It felt like someone had flipped a switch. The anxious, self-conscious voice in her head—the one that had narrated every awkward moment of her life—was quiet.
Instead, there was a steady calm.
When she looked in the mirror, she didn't flinch at her reflection. She didn't wish she could shrink away from the world. Instead, she felt like she was standing taller, even if she wasn't. Her shoulders squared themselves naturally, and there was something new in her eyes: confidence.
Zahir was floating lazily near the ceiling, arms folded behind his head like he had all the time in the world. His golden robes shimmered in the morning light spilling through the window.
"So," he said, grinning down at her, "ready to take this new version of yourself for a spin?"
Anne smiled back, a real, genuine smile. For the first time, she wasn't dreading going to school. She was excited.
Walking into Eastbridge High felt like stepping onto a stage she hadn't realized she was meant to perform on. The usual chatter in the hallways—the laughter, the whispered gossip—it was all still there. But this time, Anne wasn't invisible.
She could feel eyes on her.
Not in a bad way. Not in the oh-look-it's-Anne-the-loser way she was used to. It was different. People actually noticed her. Their eyes lingered a little longer, their conversations paused for half a second when she passed by. It was subtle, but Anne felt it like a current in the air.
She walked past Brittany's clique at their lockers, expecting the usual snarky comment. But when Brittany's eyes met Anne's, something strange happened.
Brittany hesitated.
It was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, but Anne saw it. That tiny flicker of uncertainty. Brittany's lips parted, like she was about to say something, but the words didn't come.
Anne just smiled and kept walking.
The thrill of that tiny victory buzzed through her all the way to English class. She slid into her usual seat at the back, but even from there, she could feel the shift. People glanced over their shoulders at her, curious. Like they were noticing she existed for the first time.
And then, as if the universe wanted to push things even further, Daniel walked in.
Anne's heart gave its usual flutter, but this time, it wasn't accompanied by that crushing feeling of hopelessness. She didn't duck her head or pretend to be invisible. She looked at him.
And he looked back.
It wasn't just a glance. His eyes met hers, and for a brief, electric moment, they stayed there. Anne felt her breath hitch, but she didn't look away. She held his gaze, her heart pounding but steady.
Daniel gave a small, almost hesitant smile before turning back to his friends.
Anne sat there, stunned.
Was that real?
The rest of the day felt like it was unfolding in slow motion. Anne floated through her classes, each moment blurring into the next, her mind replaying that look over and over.
By the time the final bell rang, Anne felt like she was walking on air. She barely noticed the crowds around her as she made her way to her locker. But then—
"Hey, Anne!"
She froze. That voice. She'd recognize it anywhere.
Slowly, she turned around, and there he was. Daniel Carter, standing right in front of her, his backpack slung casually over one shoulder, that same easy smile on his face.
"Hey," he said again, as if this was something they did all the time. "You're in my English class, right?"
Anne's brain scrambled for a response, but surprisingly, she didn't feel the usual panic.
"Yeah," she said, her voice steady. "I've noticed you."
I've noticed you? Where did that come from?
Daniel chuckled, and Anne felt her heart flip. "Well, I've noticed you too."
If Zahir had popped out of thin air right then and there to tell her this was all a dream, Anne wouldn't have been surprised. But it wasn't a dream. This was happening.
"You, uh, heading to the game Friday?" Daniel asked, rubbing the back of his neck in a way that made Anne's heart melt.
Anne almost laughed. Was she going to the game? Before, the idea of attending a football game alone would've been torture. But now?
"Yeah," she said, surprising herself again. "I'll be there."
Daniel's smile widened. "Cool. Maybe I'll see you after?"
"Yeah," Anne said again, trying not to sound too eager. "Maybe."
He waved and walked off, blending back into the crowd, but Anne stood there, frozen, her heart racing in the best way possible.
When she got home, Zahir was waiting for her, lounging on her bed like he owned the place.
"Well, well, well," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Someone had a good day."
Anne didn't even bother hiding her smile. "He talked to me, Zahir. Daniel Carter talked to me!"
Zahir chuckled, floating upside down now. "I told you, didn't I? People are seeing you now. But remember, Anne—this is just the beginning. You've got two more wishes."
Anne's smile faltered slightly at that. Two more wishes. The possibilities were endless. But even as she floated on the high of the day, a tiny voice in the back of her mind whispered a question she wasn't ready to answer.
What's the real cost of all this?
But for now, Anne pushed that thought aside. She was finally being seen, and that was all that mattered.