Cosmic changes

Amidst piles of trash and debris, a simple man in his thirties — worn-out clothes, tired eyes — kicks an empty can until it hits something shiny between the garbage.

— "What the hell is that?" — he mutters, bending down. It's a golden lamp, dusty, but strangely valuable-looking.

Driven by curiosity, he rubs the side of it with his sleeve.

Poof! A cloud of blue smoke bursts out, and a genie spins into the air, grand and majestic.

— "Greetings, mortal! After centuries of slumber, I awaken! As tradition dictates, you are granted three wishes!"

The man stumbles back, eyes wide.

— "You're... a genie? This is real?"

— "As real as your bank account, my friend. Now, speak your wishes!"

Still in disbelief, he thinks for a moment.

— "Alright... First wish: money. I want lots of money."

The genie snaps his fingers. A golden credit card appears in the man’s pocket, glowing like the sun.

— "Done. Unlimited funds. Next?"

— "Health. I want to live well, no sickness, no pain."

Another snap. The man feels a warm, invigorating wave rush through his body.

— "Total immunity, peak vitality. Two wishes down, two wins." — the genie says proudly.

The man grins, excited.

— "And the third..." — he hesitates — "I want to find true love."

The genie suddenly frowns.

— "Hmm… Now that one’s tricky."

— "What do you mean? You're a genie, aren’t you?"

— "I am. But true love isn’t something I can just hand out. It’s a cosmic dance, a journey. At best, I can... make things easier for you."

— "How so, easier?"

— "I can make you irresistible. So attractive that no one will be able to ignore you. That way, your chances of finding a compatible partner go way up."

The man shrugs.

— "Fine. Do it."

The genie grins… a bit too wide.

He snaps his fingers a third time.

A flash. A strange breeze. The man stumbles — something’s off. Way off. His feet are smaller. His body feels lighter. The world seems… taller?

He looks at his hands — now delicate. Looks down. His eyes go wide.

— "WHAT?! I’m a... a WOMAN?!"

The genie bursts into laughter.

— "Exactly! Young, beautiful, with a traffic-stopping figure! Irresistible, as promised."

— "BUT... BUT I DIDN’T ASK FOR THIS!"

— "Ah, but you did want true love. I just did the math. Frankly, with your old look? Odds were slim. This way? I'd say you’re sitting at a solid 87% chance now."

He floats, inspecting his nails.

— "Not bad, huh?"

— "This is insane! You’ve gotta turn me back!"

The genie sighs with mock sadness.

— "Last wish, remember? Rules are rules. And one more thing..." — he glances at the sky, now darkening — "The lamp’s about to vanish for, oh... say, a hundred years. Magic cycle and all."

The ground begins glowing beneath him.

— "Make the most of those three wishes, alright? And good luck with love. You’ll need it."

— "NO! WAIT! GENIE!!"

Poof! He disappears.

Alone in the alley, the new woman takes a deep breath and stares at her reflection in a cracked shop window. Tears well up... and, strangely enough, a small smile.

— "Irresistible, huh? Well... let’s see how this goes."

She pulls the golden card from her pocket, fixes her hair, and walks toward the city lights.