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Keith lay perfectly still with his eyes shut as tightly as possibly. There was a lot going through his mind. He didn't hear his alarm going off, so he knew he wasn't due to rise for work.

“Was it real, or was it just a dream,” he said as he pulled the comforter over his head. He wasn't quite ready to join the world yet.

It seemed real. He could remember minute details that he figured he would've forgotten if it were all just a dream, but he couldn't be certain. If it were real, it was a shame that he only wished for one day. If it were a dream, it was the most vivid that he ever had.

“I should have wished for more than one day,” he said to himself.

A wave of sadness struck him. He had gotten his perfect day with his aunt, but now felt even more alone. It was if her death just happened mere seconds ago instead of almost a year prior.

“Stupid wish,” he murmured.

Part of him wish that day never ended, or that life he experienced only a fraction of could go on. Perhaps in another universe he was Katie and those things really happened. That brought a sense of hope along with a yearning. Sure he had wondered what it would be like to be a girl throughout his life, but he never gave it much credence; somethings were just never meant to be.

A strange thought struck Keith, but he figured the universe wouldn't be so kind. He ran his hand along his side, hoping to feel the nightgown he found himself waking up with in the alternate reality. Unfortunately he didn't feel any material at all, just his skin. He was naked just like when he decided to take a nap on the couch.

He began to cry. Sure, it was nice to spend a day with his aunt, even if it were perhaps a dream. Yet like most things, that wasn't enough.

Through the cover he felt a hand touch his shoulder. Knowing that he lived alone, Keith flung the cover off of him and got ready to defend himself.

“Katie, it's okay, it's just me.”

Katie's jaw dropped to her chest and her eyes grew wide. “Aunt Roe?”

The woman smiled. “Who did you expect?”

Katie blinked her eyes hard, hoping to come to her senses. She looked down at her own body. It was certainly not the body of a fat thirty seven year old man and a quick glance between her legs revealed that she was still a girl.

“Yes,” Rosalie said playfully, “you are still you.”

“But, but, but,” Katie stammered searching for the words.

“But what?”

Katie couldn't take her eyes off her aunt and made no effort at covering her nude form. “But, I only wished for one day.”

Rosalie put her hand on the child's arm. “I know, Keith,” she said with a grin. “But it would be a cruel wish to give you something you so desperately wanted only to snatch it away from you.”

“You knew?”

“I didn't know yesterday, but I know now.”

“But how?” Katie said as her head spun.

“Does that really matter?” Rosalie stood with her arms open. “I'm here.”

“That's all I need to know,” Katie said joyfully as she sprung from the bed and into her Aunt's arms.

That was 29 years ago to the day. I had to wait before I could tell anyone, besides who would believe it. Aunt Roe still died, and, yes, I still miss her. But I never forgot how my life turned out the first time through and we made sure every moment count. I haven't told anyone this story, not even my husband, but who would've believed it. If I had mentioned it, I probably would be committed. Maybe my children still believe in such magic, I sure hope they do. Of course, my two girls never met Aunt Roe, only because they know her only as Grandma. At least with the children, I am able to pass down the legacy of love that my aunt left to me.

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Note: I purposefully left the ending for a separate post because I wanted people to draw their own conclusion about what happened when the wish was over. I had this in mind pretty early on so it wasn't a rush addition. Originally though, the perfect day really did include a trip to a Met game and a night watching a play. I scrapped that idea because it seemed like the action was detracting from what really was important, the time spent with Aunt Roe. So I added the party instead and had a lot of interaction. I may have been able to do better, but at least I finished a story this time. I hope to get started on other projects or at least finishing some of what I have on my plate. Right now, my mind is being eaten by the hormones. I am hoping that as soon as I adjust, my thinking flows like it use to.

Thank you for reading.

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