Mary, a frumpy, single 50-year-old woman

Mary, a 50-year-old woman with a penchant for sweater sets and sensible shoes, lived a solitary life in a small apartment that had seen better days. The walls were a tired shade of eggshell, the carpets a mottled brown, and the curtains hung limply, as if they had given up on the fight against the sun. Despite her plain exterior, she had a secret garden of imagination that bloomed in the quiet corners of her mind. Each evening, she'd lose herself in the pages of a book, escaping into worlds filled with adventure and romance.

One ordinary afternoon, a package arrived at her doorstep. It was a sleek black box with a simple red button adorned on top, wrapped in a velvet cloth that whispered of opulence. A card attached read: "A Gift for Mary. Press to bring your heart's desires to life. Remember, only you will know the truth." Intrigued, she called her friend Donna over, a vibrant blonde woman, the same age as her and together they pondered the mysterious gift.

Mary's finger hovered over the button, curiosity and doubt warring within her. "What could it do?" Donna mused, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Why not find out?" With a deep breath, Mary pressed the button. A soft click echoed in the room, and a warm, tingling sensation washed over her.

In the next moment, Donna's eyes widened. "Mary, look at yourself!" she exclaimed. Gone were the dull clothes and the dowdy hairstyle. In their place, a vibrant dress that hugged her figure and a haircut that framed her face with youthful grace. "Wow," Mary murmured, touching her new look. It was as if she had stepped out of one of her books and into a reality that was a mirror of her desires.

But the changes weren't confined to her appearance. The apartment transformed around them, the walls now a soft, inviting shade of blue, the carpets a rich, plush pile under their feet. The curtains had been replaced with sheer, flowing fabric that allowed the sun to kiss the room gently. "This must be a dream," Donna said, her voice filled with wonder.

Mary, feeling a thrill of power, decided to indulge in another fantasy. She pushed the button again, and the room filled with the aroma of her favorite Italian restaurant. The table set before them was laden with steaming dishes of pasta and garlic bread. Donna's eyes gleamed with excitement as they tucked into their meal, savoring each bite as if it were a taste of paradise.

But as they ate, Mary noticed a subtle shift in Donna's demeanor. Her friend's laughter grew louder, more raucous, and her appetite seemed insatiable. It was as if the button didn't just change their surroundings, but also stirred something within them. She watched as Donna, usually the epitome of decorum, began to double-dip her bread and slurped her spaghetti, leaving a trail of sauce on her lips.

Mary felt a twinge of unease, but the temptation to explore the button's power was too great. She pressed it again, and before her eyes, the apartment grew even grander, the furniture more luxurious. Yet, the transformation brought with it a strange sensation, a whisper of something darker beneath the surface. Mary paused, unsure about what was happening.

Donna, noticing the shift in her friend, reached out a hand to touch the button. "Let me try," she urged, her voice thick with a greed that was uncharacteristic of her usual gentle tone. Mary hesitated, but the curiosity won out. She handed the box to Donna, who was practically trembling with excitement.

With a grin that held a hint of something feral, Donna pressed the button. The warmth that had enveloped Mary was now a blistering heat that surged through her, and when it faded, Donna's features had softened. The lines of age had been smoothed away, and she looked 2 decades younger, her skin radiant and eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, this is incredible!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet. Her movements were more fluid, her gestures more exaggerated. She jumped with glee as she stared at herself in a nearby mirror, noticing her longer, more vibrant blond hairs and her new, perfect smile.

Mary couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as she watched her friend twirl around the room, the fabric of her dress fluttering around her youthful figure. Yet, the sight of Donna's transformation was tinged with a hint of dread. The change had not stopped at her friend's physical appearance; her behavior had become increasingly erratic and self-indulgent.

"Again, again!" Donna begged, her eyes alight with a wild hunger that made Mary's stomach clench. She knew she should resist, but the allure of the button was too strong. Mary's heart raced as she thought of the quiet, orderly life she had always known. Yet the temptation was too great. She closed her eyes and pushed it a third time. The room shifted again, the walls expanding to reveal a walk-in closet filled with clothes that could rival any fashionista's collection. Donna squealed with delight as she watched her friend changes.

Her grey hair had vanished, replaced by a dark, glossy mane that fell in soft waves around her shoulders. Her body had transformed, now curvier and more fit than it had ever been. Her lips, once thin and unassuming, were now plump and inviting, painted a deep crimson that matched her newfound boldness. She felt a strange thrill, a sense of power that was as intoxicating as it was terrifying.

Her eyes, once a simple brown, had been replaced with piercing emerald orbs that seemed to gleam with mischief. Her skin was flawless, not a single blemish or line in sight.

Mary ran her hands over her body, feeling the silky fabric of the red dress that had appeared as if by magic, hugging her newfound curves in all the right places. Her fingers traced the neckline, which plunged dangerously low, revealing a hint of cleavage she had never before dared to show. She noticed the way her legs looked in the mirror, longer and more shapely, ending in a pair of stilettos that she had never owned. She took a step, her hips swaying in a way that seemed almost foreign to her. The button had not only changed her appearance but had also bestowed upon her a newfound confidence, a seductive grace that she hadn't felt since her youth.

"Oh my god," Donna breathed, her own transformation momentarily forgotten as she took in the vision before her. "Mary, you're stunning." But her eyes held something more than just admiration. They glinted with a hunger that made Mary's pulse race, a hunger that mirrored the one growing inside her. The button had not only changed their appearances but had also unlocked a part of themselves that they had kept hidden away, a part that craved more than the mundane lives they had been leading.

Mary felt a sudden, unexplained urge to show off her new look. "Let's go out," she suggested, her voice huskier than she had ever heard it. "Let's hit the town and see the reactions we get."

Donna's eyes lit up at the idea, and she nodded eagerly. "The nightclub downtown!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a recklessness that was unlike her. Mary smiled gleefully, she put the small box in her new purse and they left.