Anne barely slept that night.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the events over and over in her mind. The soft glow of the streetlight outside her window cast shifting shadows across the walls, but nothing seemed more surreal than the fact that a genie—a real genie—was lounging in the corner of her room.
Zahir had made himself comfortable on her beanbag chair, flipping through one of her old magazines like he had nowhere else in the world to be. Occasionally, he'd glance up and flash that infuriatingly smug smile, like he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Because, of course, he did know.
"So, let me guess," he said casually, tossing the magazine aside. "You're wondering if you should use your first wish to get Daniel to fall head over heels for you, right?"
Anne shot him a glare from her bed. "I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to," he chuckled, floating a few inches off the ground and spinning lazily in the air. "It's practically written on your forehead."
Anne groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. "This is insane. I'm going insane."
Zahir's voice drifted through the fabric, smooth and teasing. "Or... you're finally getting exactly what you deserve."
That made her pause. What I deserve?
When morning finally came, Anne dragged herself out of bed, her mind still buzzing. Zahir had disappeared sometime in the night, leaving only a faint shimmer of golden dust in the air, but she could feel his presence lingering in the back of her thoughts.
As she stood in front of the mirror, brushing out the tangles in her hair, Anne stared at her reflection. Same messy auburn curls. Same too-big glasses. Same girl who'd been invisible for as long as she could remember.
But now, she wasn't invisible. She had power.
The thought made her heart race.
At school, everything felt different. The same hallways, the same students, but Anne walked through them with a strange sense of anticipation. It was like the world had shifted slightly, tilted in her favor, and no one else knew it yet.
She spotted Daniel at his locker, laughing with his friends. His smile was easy, effortless, and Anne felt that familiar flutter in her chest. But this time, it wasn't just longing. It was possibility.
Brittany and her clique were nearby, whispering and casting sly glances in Anne's direction. Normally, that would've sent her retreating into herself, but today? Today, Anne just smiled.
Because she held the cards now.
The day passed in a blur. Every time someone sneered or whispered, Anne reminded herself that she could change everything with just a few words. But she didn't—yet.
By the time she got home, her mind was made up. She couldn't live like this anymore—always on the sidelines, always wishing for something better. She had a genie. She had wishes.
Zahir was waiting for her when she stepped into her room, lounging on her bed like he owned the place.
"Well, well," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You look like girl with a decision."
Anne took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest.
"I want to make my first wish."
Zahir's grin widened. "I knew you'd come around. So, what's it going to be? Fame? Riches? A certain football star?"
Anne hesitated. The easy answer was Daniel. To have him look at her like she mattered, to finally be seen and wanted. But something about that felt... wrong. It wasn't real. And deep down, she knew that wouldn't fix everything.
"I want..." she started, her voice trembling slightly, "I want people to see me. Not just notice me, but really see me for who I am. I want to be confident. I want to feel like I belong."
Zahir blinked, his grin fading into something more thoughtful. For a moment, Anne thought he might argue, but then he nodded.
"A wish for confidence and belonging," he mused. "Not the usual request, but I like it. It's got... potential."
He snapped his fingers.
The room pulsed with golden light, and Anne felt a warmth spread through her chest, like the sun rising inside her. It wasn't painful, but it was intense, like every part of her was being rewired.
When the light faded, Anne staggered slightly, catching her reflection in the mirror.
She looked the same—same hair, same glasses—but something was different. The way she stood, the way her eyes met her own reflection without flinching. It was like a weight she didn't know she'd been carrying had been lifted.
She felt... powerful.
Zahir watched her with a satisfied smile. "There you go. One wish down. How do you feel?"
Anne met his gaze, her heart steady for the first time in years.
"I feel ready."
And for the first time in her life, she truly was.