The Misinterpreted Wish

Gabriel was exhausted. Another lonely night, staring at his phone while the world seemed to have fun without him. His Instagram feed was a parade of perfect bodies, rehearsed smiles, and lives that all looked better than his in every way.

Until he paused on one photo. It was a famous influencer — blonde, stunning, wearing a striking red outfit. The caption said something generic like “Be your best self,” but the thousands of likes and comments made one thing clear: she was adored. Desired. Envied.

Gabriel let out a tired sigh and muttered to himself:

— I wish I were desired like her...

That was it. A stray thought whispered into the quiet of the night. He didn’t believe in magic, wishes, or anything of the sort. He just closed his eyes on the couch and drifted off.

---

When he woke up, everything felt… strange. The room was too bright. The smell was different. His body — smaller, lighter, and with the odd sensation of hair cascading over his shoulders — wasn’t his.

He rushed to the mirror.

And froze.

The reflection didn’t show Gabriel. It showed her.

The same woman from the photo. Same hair. Same body. Same confused look now, but with perfectly done makeup.

— What... what is going on? — he whispered, startled by his own voice — now feminine, soft, high-pitched.

He looked around. The room was modern, elegant, Instagram-worthy. A phone buzzed on the nightstand. He picked it up. Face recognition. It worked.

Notifications poured in: messages from fans, brand deals, a livestream scheduled, comments on posts with thousands of likes. It was her life. And now, somehow, it was his.

---

The next few hours were quiet chaos. He tried calling himself — no luck. Searched for any clue, any explanation, but all he found was the need to keep up appearances. A photo shoot was scheduled. A video to record. A boyfriend messaging “Are you okay?” — and Gabriel had no idea how to answer.

In the mirror, that perfect woman still stared back. But little by little, he started seeing more than just the surface. He saw the doubt, the weight in her eyes. There was something more. The pressure to meet expectations. To please everyone. To smile even when wanting to run.

And strangely enough… Gabriel began to understand.

---

Days passed. He was adapting — poorly, but trying. Yet amid the chaos, something unexpected began to grow: a sense of freedom. For the first time in years, he was outside the box he had lived in. Every step, every mistake, every discovery forced him to see himself in a new light. It wasn’t just about being desired. It was about being alive.

And as strange as it all was... something deep down told him this wasn’t a punishment. It was a chance.

A chance to restart. To rediscover. To maybe, just maybe, become his best version — from the inside out.