He goes back to the dorm

As I arrived back in the dorm, Mark and Lisa were still there, relaxing in the living area watching some tv. They both said hello, but I didn’t want to bother them so I secluded myself back in the bedroom alone. I didn’t have classes until later in the afternoon so there really wasn’t anywhere else for me to go.

The dormitory walls were thin though, and the muffled laughter of Mark and his Lisa seeped through them like water through a sieve. It was a sound that both comforted and tormented me, James —the perpetual wallflower with an unremarkable life. Curled up in my bed, I stared at the ceiling, the greenish glow of the digital clock casting spectral figures on the stark white above.

"James, you want to join us for lunch?" Mark's voice cut through the laughter, and I glanced over to see him peeking around the doorway, his hair tousled and a grin playing on his face. Lisa popped her head in beside him, her smile radiant enough to ignite envy's bitter flame deep within my chest.

"Uh, yeah, sure," I managed, my voice barely more than a whisper, betraying my shy nature.

"Great! We'll wait for you in the hall," Lisa chirped, and they vanished, leaving me alone with the silence and my thoughts.

I shoved the covers off and sat up, grappling with the surreal knowledge that had come upon awakening. Today wasn't just another day; today marked the dawn of a new reality—a reality where I wielded power beyond comprehension. The power to bend the very fabric of existence to my will. What a strange twist of fate for someone who felt so powerless when it came to the simplest social interactions.

With a deep breath, I focused on a small change—a test. My plain blue T-shirt shifted, seams threading into intricate patterns as it morphed into a designer garment. I stood and faced the mirror, expecting disbelief, but instead found only acceptance of the reflection before me. No shock, no questioning—just James Harris in a shirt that was suddenly always his.

"James, you coming?" Mark's voice echoed again, this time tinged with impatience.

"Be right there!" I called back, my heart pounding at the enormity of what I'd done.

I stepped out into the hallway, and both Mark and Lisa turned to greet me. Their eyes swept over my transformed attire without a hint of surprise.

"Nice shirt, man. New?" Mark asked casually, slinging an arm around Lisa's shoulders.

"Uh, yeah. Just got it," I lied smoothly, the words rolling off my tongue with ease.

"Looks good on you," Lisa added with a friendly nod, and we made our way toward the dining hall.

As I walked alongside them, the weight of my secret power pressed against my conscience like a leaden cloak. I held the keys to reality itself, yet I was still just James Harris, the introvert envious of his roommate’s life. Only now, I was James Harris with a choice—what would I become with this absolute power? And more importantly, what would it make of me?