It's my 18th birthday today!
And I finally found out which ability I got.
I'm bursting with joy.
It's almost time.
People I know are here for my birthday party!
The knife glides smoothly through the soft, expertly crafted layers of the cake, cutting through frosting to reveal the moist interior. Everyone cheers.
"They're waiting!" someone yells. "Show us!"
My ability is revealed now.
I'm not happy.
When I see it, my stomach drops.
_Body Swap._
I wanted something cool. Like Kaiya's telekinesis. Or Loid's illusions. Not this.
The birthday party ends.
Everyone goes to their homes.
Except my Best friends. His house is far, so he's staying here tonight.
I'm heading to my room when he follows me in.
He flops onto my desk chair and spins once. "So? What'd you get?"
I cross my arms. I don't like my ability. "Nothing good. Not telling."
He leans forward, grinning. "Come on. Don't be lame."
He keeps pushing. Poking my shoulder. Won't drop it.
Annoyance spikes hot in my chest. Fine.
In my head I think it: _Swap bodies with him._
The room tilts.
For half a second the world goes white.
Then I'm taller. My hands are bigger. My voice is deeper when I gasp.
I look down — I'm in his body.
And across from me, my cousin is staring at me with my face. Eyes wide. Mouth open.
"What—" he says, but it's my voice. "What did you do?"
I stumble back. This feels wrong. My limbs don't fit right. His hoodie is too tight on me.
I take a step toward my old body. Toward him. "Are you okay? Can you hear me in there?"
He scrambles away from me on the bed, pulling my knees up. "Stay back! Get out of me!"
Panic hits me. This is my body. But it's not me in it.
I raise my hands, and he flinches. I immediately drop them.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to— I was just angry."
He's shaking. He slides off the bed and bolts for the door, glancing back at me with my terrified eyes. Then he's gone, and the door clicks shut.
I stand there in his body, heart pounding.
And the worst part? For one second, before he ran, I felt... relieved. Like I got back at him.
Now the house is quiet.
From down the hall I hear him crying. Then, after a while, silence. He must've fallen asleep.
I sit on the edge of the bed in his body, staring at my hands.
I have no idea how to change back.
---