Dr. Freeling’s Rock

“It may look like an ordinary little rock,” Dr. Linda Freeling began anxiously, pinching it between her right index finger and thumb and holding it up to her face. Looking almost giddy, those sharp green eyes of hers stared intently at her confused daughter, Judy. “But it is far from that: the holder commands reality, and is master of the future, the present, and the past.”

Dr. Freeling’s office was lit dimly, its sterile white walls reflecting the harsh fluorescence of the overhead lights. It was cluttered with an array of scientific instruments, books, and papers scattered across various countertops, somehow, organized in a way that only she understood. She also clearly understood the gravity of her words with Judy’s obvious incredulity not fazing her. "Listen, I’m serious, this holds powers beyond human understanding.” She paused, her gaze shifting to the stone before setting it down on her desk. "It could incredibly change anything the holder desires. Anything.”

A barely-awake Judy blinked; surely, her mother was just spewing one of her eccentric tales again. But there was something strange about her mother’s tone this time. "Mom, c’mon, are you kidding me? That’s just, like, a rock. Is this really why you told me to drive to your office in the middle of the night?"

The answer to that question was yes, and that was clear because even at this hour, Dr. Freeling spoke with the voice of a woman that was unwavering, but her energy (if not the kind of energy) was anything but surprising. She was a tall woman in her late fifties, her wiry frame and sharp features giving her an almost predatory air. The lines on her face betrayed not only her age, but the strenuousness of her work. Her once rich brown hair was streaked with gray, pulled back into a no-nonsense ponytail with two loose strands that framed her face well. She wore a tailored business dress, with the dark fabric a stark contrast to the sterile white walls of her office. The only splash of color came from a small, jade brooch pinned just above her heart, a gift from her ex-husband and a rare concession to sentimentality.

Meanwhile, feeling more exhausted by the second, Judy struggled to stay so focused on what she was hearing. She was, at present, the epitome of casual disarray, though the urge to at least get dressed before she drove over from her dorm had her put on a faded denim jacket over a simple t-shirt and jeans. Her normally sleek brunette bob was a wiry mess, strands sticking out at odd angles. Dark circles marred the skin under her tired hazel eyes. On a good day, Judy was an altogether kind 21-year-old college junior, her warm smile and gentle demeanor. She was a club basketball player and had a fit body to boot. But on a bad night like this, fatigue had transformed her, rendering her irritable and short-tempered, a far cry from her usual self.

"Okay, Mom, let's say I believe you or whatever," Judy blurted, her skepticism evident. Maybe indulging her mother would make this go quicker. "What exactly do you plan to do with this, um... magical rock?"

Dr. Freeling's eyes gleamed with excitement, her composure at last breaking. "That’s the beauty of this, Judy: the possibilities are limitless! I mean, let’s see… oh! If memory serves, you told me the other day that you wanted to study abroad in Italy next semester but weren't sure you could really learn the language.” Without hesitation, she picked up the stone again, clutching it tightly in her hand and extending her arm towards her daughter. “You can speak Italian fluently!”

Judy watched in disbelief as the stone seemed to glow faintly in her mother's hand. She could feel a strange sensation in her head, like a thousand memories being unlocked all at once. Suddenly, she found herself remembering these unfamiliar episodes, years of Italian classes in school instead of other ones, the thrill of being inducted into her high school’s Italian honor society, and the joy of speaking the language to her friends, amazing them with her fluency. She blinked, trying to make sense of what was happening, but…wait, why would she have to make sense of it? Of course she spoke Italian. Her friends all took the classes because they wanted to be “different” and not take Spanish like everyone else, and Judy went along with them but unironically got really into it. And despite her fluency she spoke it with a slight American accent, but who cared? Now that she was a master at it, speaking the language was going to make any potential trip to Italy a whole lot easier.

Judy shook her head, pinching her nose. Maybe she was just getting really tired.

Noticing her daughter wincing, Dr Freeling's smile was triumphant. "I told you, Judy: this stone can change anything."

“Uh, what do you mean?” Judy asked, feeling slightly disoriented for whatever reason. “You just said I speak fluent Italian…and you know I already do.”

Dr. Freeling raised an eyebrow but quickly understood the implications of Judy’s answer: only the holder was aware of any changes. “Ah, yes…of course. Don’t mind me, just thinking about our chat last week.”