Lee looked skeptically at the misty form floating overhead. "So you're saying you're going to grant me one wish? Isn't three the standard?"

The mist, speaking through humid air, responded, "You offered me food and released me from the witch's curse. That's worth one wish. You'd need to save my life to get two, and do something truly self-sacrificing to get three. Sorry, I don't write the rules; I'm just bound to follow them." The genie shrugged, in as much as it was possible for droplets of water in a gaseous form to do so.

Lee thought. On the one hand, one wish wasn't as much as stories indicated. On the other hand, one wish could be life-changing, for personal fulfillment, financial security, world peace? "Okay, hang on, there have to be rules here. What are we looking at?"

Lee got the impression that the mist smiled. "Ah, some wisdom from a wisher. I like it. There are some rules.

"First, I can't violate free will. No falling in love, no sudden changes in political perspective, and unfortunately no making abusive or neglectful family members compassionate.

"Second, I can't negate important historical events, and I'm going to be honest with you, you're probably not going to want me to undo anything in the past. It always comes with unintended consequences, and it often goes hand in hand with the next rule.

"Third, I can't undo any previous wishes, yours or others. I'll tell you if this rule applies when you try to use a wish, so you're not going to lose it.

"Fourth, the wish is a limited time offer. You have about five minutes to make your wish; you can't bank the wish for later use.

"Fifth, and this is the one you need to listen to because I'm not allowed to give you any warnings about it: I have to interpret your wish as simply and literally as possible. I'm not trying to be tricky, or force you to waste the wish, it's just the rule I'm bound by."

Lee thought again. "So you're able to make physical changes? Even if they're unnatural or potentionally uncomfortable?"

The mist "winced". "Technically, yes, but I'm hoping you're not the kind of person who would do that to someone else?"

"Oh, I'm not thinking about doing anything to anyone else." Lee thought about the wish that would, hopefully, bring fulfillment and a healthier life. "I wish for you to make me into a woman."

The mist surrounded Lee, who felt a sigh in the form of a gentle breeze. "Are you certain this is your wish? Remember that I can't take it back or alter it afterward."

Lee nodded, certain. "Yes, my wish is to be a woman, immediately and without any waiting."

The mist swirled around Lee, and the breeze whispered, "I grant your wish, with the timing you desire." The mist then dispersed, as though it had become normal moisture and Lee had imagined its earlier independent movement and speech.

Lee closed her eyes, awaiting the changes she desired, then opened them again. Nothing seemed to have changed. She was still wearing the clothes she needed to wear for her job - a men's suit - with no indication that her body had changed to put its expensive tailoring to fit at risk.

She stumbled into a restaurant and found the single-occupancy restroom. Once inside, she looked in the mirror. Her face remained the same, with its short hair and mild stubble. She removed her jacket and shirt to find no changes to her chest - still hairy and with no evidence of breast growth. She felt her nipples and found no change in their sensitivity. She investigated below the belt as well, and felt what she feared would still remain, as well as noticing no change in the shape of her hips or the hair on her legs.

Lee started to sob, feeling that her one chance to live her truth was gone forever. She took time to compose herself, splashed water on her face, and activated the hand dryer. With the noise from the dryer as cover, she shouted her frustration to the genie. "What the fuck! You didn't grant my wish! Nothing changed!"

Lee heard, from subtle changes in the air flowing from the dryer, the genie's reply: "I tried to warn you that my wishes were simple and literal. I even bent the rules and asked you to confirm your wish, hoping that you'd clarify. You didn't. I granted your wish, and nothing changed. You're still the woman you were when you met me, and the woman you've been your whole life."

"WHAT?" Lee's shout this time was clearly audible outside the restroom, as the air dryer shut off when the genie finished explaining. She heard a knock on the door, from a concerned employee. She assured him that she was fine, and left to continue her day.

That evening, after she left work, Lee went home. She removed her suit and entered her walk-in closet, examining the opposing rails of masculine-coded clothes she wore each day and feminine-coded ones that, just briefly, she thought she'd finally be able to wear outside the windowless room.

She went to her kitchen, poured herself a glass of wine, and looked at her computer, where an open tab to schedule therapy had been awaiting her for weeks.

She took a drink of her wine - much more than a sip - and went to her computer.

She was given a wish, and got exactly what she wished for.

It was time to stop wishing.