Every night you dream that you talk to a genie, when you wake up you can't remember what you wished for. One morning you wake up with a giant crab pincer replacing your right arm. What do you do?
I stare at the new limb attached to me in shock, not sure what to make of it. I start brainstorming on how this happened, my mind still a little foggy from just waking up.
Then I come to a realisation: My dreams might've been real this whole time. I always found it strange that it was a reoccuring dream with only small changes and yet I could never remember how it ended as in the actual wish itself. Still I never really thought much into it but now seemingly it had some effects on my real life too - if the giant crab pincer, replacing my arm and my dreams are truly connected in some way.
All in all it doesn't really matter. Now the most important thing is figure out how to deal with this situaison. I either have to get rid of it or try to learn to live with it. Of course, I'd try the former first. Having a crab pincer as an arm would be pretty inconvenient in the long run. Especially since it's my right arm which I mostly use for certain tasks.
But how would I even do it? I can't really go to a doctor because they'd probably just try to cut it off or something, then I'd loose my arm entirely. I also doubt I could turn to any of my friends since they would just freak out. Then again what would happen if I did keep it?
Well for starters I would pretty much be unable to do anything. I couldn't write or draw or even properly use my phone anymore. Eating would also proove to be difficult as well as any other daily activities, even getting dressed. But there must be some cooler sides to this, right? I mean I could cut things with it with ease and...and... Actually that's all I can think of. Speaking of cutting I might accident cut myself or others with it. That wouldn't be too great. Yeah it was stupid to even consider the good sides of this arm, maybe I should get back to figuring out how to make into an actual human arm again. Mmm, but I debunked that earlier, didn't I? Still I only considered options involving other people who are all but humans like myself.
If I showed this to anyone, they overreact the situaison because they couldn't make sense of it. When in reality it's nothing too serious, really. It's just that I have a crab arm now and I might be stuck with it forever...
Oh god... I have a crab arm now and I might be stuck with it forever!!!
My mind now completely cleared up from the morning drowziness from before and it is alert and paniced as ever. Earlier I just thought with a sort of detachment like it wasn't actually my problem but now I fully and truly realised it's the opposite. This thing is litterally attached to me! As long as it stays that way, I'm never gona be able to live a normal life again.
My eyes start to get teary because of my rising anxiety but I quickly stop myself from panicing and take a few deep breaths. It's gona be fine. I can fix this - I think to myself. There must be a way. There just has to be. C'mon think!
And that I do. Then I remember my dreams once more... That's it! The solution may be in my dreams! If I wished for this to happen and it came true, then if I just wish for it to go away, it probably will! Even if I don't remember it afterwards. It'd really be best if this all just stayed in my memory as a nightmare.
With that I lie back down in my bed and I wait for sleep to come take me. Sadly it doesn't really work however. I've become to alert and too awake to be able to sleep again. Despite that I stay still with my eyes closed but my attempt once again fails. This is no good. What do I do? I can't go to work like this. Especially since I'm probably already late. Oh well, I'll just...stay home today and wait until I can sleep again.
I open my eyes and to my surprise the scenery has changed. And before my eyes there is a figure floating above the ground. It's the genie!
"Welcome back, master." they speak. I stare in silence and shock. Was I already asleep? I didn't feel like being asleep. Everything felt too real and when I looked down to check my crab arm was still there. I sigh in disappointment but remember that the genie is still here. Right. Maybe I should ask them some questions.
"Genie, how come you're here? As far as I'm aware, I'm awake so... My real question is, how are you real? How-how is any of this real?"
The genie's expression doesn't change, then they answer as if they have been prepared for this question.
"It always has been. Up until this point, I only came to you through your dreams. But now you were so desparate to undo your wish that I felt I should come sooner this time."
"So I did wish for this thing huh." I ask while holding up the crab pincer. The genie nods. "That's right. I myself didn't understand either but you kept on insisting."
"I did?" I ask with a confused expression. "But why would I? A crab arm is nothing but inconveniences."
"I thought so too but kept going on and on about how it would be so cool and how many things you could do with it. And since your wish is my command, I was unable to stop you from making this decision." the genie explained with a sort of guilty expression.
I just sit there in complete shock at my own stupidity. Guess the saying that some ideas sound better in your head than said outloud, really is true. "Well, can you undo it?" I ask, quickly getting back to my point.
This time the genie's expression changes. It becomes much more serious than it already was.
"Well yes," they start "but..." they pause. I look at them confused as to why the hold up. After while, they continue speaking.
"I am not going to lie to you - mostly because the rules of genie-hood doesn't allow me to. If you make it... This will be your last wish." The genie says with complete seriousness. My eyes widen at the statement. "So... I won't be able to wish for anything else?"
"I am afraid not." the genie's expression saddens.
"But why?" I ask.
"There is a limit to how many wishes you can make. And it seems, you've used up just about all of it but this last one."
We both fall silent after that. I think about what consequenses this could have or what I could lose with it. The more I think about, the more I realise: not that much. I didn't know of the abnormal effects of my dreams until now so I will most likely be fine after they disappear.
"I see." I reply. "I still want you to do it though."
"I had a feeling you'd say that. And that is indeed the best decision. However..." the hesitation in his voice gives me a bad feeling.
"What is it genie?" I ask concerned.
"I do not mean to place a burden upon you but, I'm afraid once you make this wish, not only will it be your last but I will also be gone."
"You mean I won't be able to see you anymore...?"
"Correct."
I think things through once again and come to the same conclusion. The genie might be nice but I didn't know about them being real until now either. However
"Wait! The way you phrased it..." I come to a different realisation. "You're not gona...die are you?" The genie's expression softened up and out of the blue it bursts into a laugh.
"HAHAHA! I truly appritiate your concern Master but there is no need to worry. I will simply pass to another person's dreams. That's all there is to it."
"Oh." I exclaim sort of relieved. "How long have you been doing this?"
"For too long to count. I am bound to repeat this cycle until someone wishes me to be free." the sadness in their tone returns.
Suddenly I realise why they were so sad. If I make my wish to undo the previous one, then it's another wasted opportunity for the genie to get their freedom. So that's what they meant by not wanting to place a burden on me. What should I do? I can't decide between my own well being and someone else's freedom!
"Genie I..." as if they could read my thoughts
"Do not concern yourself with such things. I will be alright. I am to serve you and not the contrairy."
"But I can't just make you repeat this endless cycle again! I don't even care about my arm anymore, you have the right to be free!"
"I know and that is why you shouldn't worry. Somewhere, someday, someone will wish for my freedom. And that place, time and person doesn't have to be you." they say reassuringly but melancolicly.
I feel at a loss. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Should I just take my chance and forget about genie? Or should I save them at a risk of not being able to live normally again. Neither is pleasing enough. Too bad I only have one wish. If only I could wish for more wishes. If only I didn't waste one from the last two on this stupid crab arm...
Then the idea hits me. It is risky yet somehow brilliant and is most likely the best solution to both of our problems. I just really, really hope it will work.
"Alright genie, I decided on my last wish."
"Very well. What is your wish, Master?"
I take a deep breath. I look at my arm and back at genie. This is probably the last time I will see the both of them.
"I wish...for you to reverse time before my second last wish."
The genie hesitates. Then just smiles, snaps their fingers and says
"Your wish is my command."
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