ISN'T IT A LITTLE TOO EARLY FOR DOWNSIDES?

"Hello, mother," I said, my voice sounding like a robotic greeting card. Why on earth did I talk like that? It was as if my mouth had a mind of its own, spewing out awkward formalities like a medieval knight addressing a queen. I cringed inwardly, but my mom just raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. I couldn't tell if it was amusement or annoyance.

"Yes, Chester," she replied sharply. She strode into her office, her high heels clicking on the marble floor like a metronome, and I followed, feeling a little bit out of place. I could sense the change in her tone.

"What do you want, Chester?" she asked, her patience wearing thin. "I'm busy, as you can see." Her eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing into my soul, making me squirm in my shoes. I shrugged, my shoulders rising like a pair of guilty parentheses. Why was she speaking to me like that? I wondered. Maybe she was just stressed about work or something, I thought, trying to rationalize her behavior.

I placed my sweaty palms on her desk, the cool surface a stark contrast to my clammy skin. But before I could even open my mouth, she gave me a glare that could freeze water at a hundred paces, and I quickly withdrew my hands, like a snail retreating into its shell. "You weren't at breakfast?" I asked.

She looked surprised, "I wasn't at breakfast?" She repeated, not particularly sounding like she didn't get the question, her voice coming out with a high-pitched laugh, like a bird chirping in a manic tone. "You're impossible, when did we start having breakfast together?" My jaw dropped like a trapdoor, but I recovered quickly, my determination to have a conversation with her.

Sukani's words about the aftermath of the wishes echoed in my head like a warning bell, but I shook it off.

"I'm going to court," she said, standing up and clustering her files. "See you after a while."

I raised my head, looking impressed, my eyes wide. So, my mom worked as a lawyer now, or maybe even a judge?

"You have work?" I asked, trying not to sound as curious as I was.

"Yes, and the divorce is going to be finalized soon," she replied, her tone flat.

"DI...DIVORCE?" I stammered, my voice trembling, my eyes wide with shock. I knew Fiona's parents weren't on good terms, like two rival gangs in a turf war, but I didn't know it would lead to a divorce, poor Fiona...she really loved her parents, it was quite unfortunate but what can we do?

"Yeah, the divorce," she said, her face as emotionless as a statue. "I know you don't want this, but don't play dumb." She raised an eyebrow.

"Wait, what? Whose divorce?!" I exclaimed. That was the most scared I'd ever been. I was always hovering between 5 and 6 on the fear scale, but now I was at 100! What the fuck was this woman talking about?!

"My divorce ofcourse! Playing dumb is not going to change anything Chester, you know that." She said, her voice firm "Your father and I just have to split up. It's getting too toxic Chester."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. My mind raced with questions and emotions, but I couldn't form a coherent thought.

"What? Why? When?" I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

She sighed and rubbed her temples, looking exhausted. "It's complicated. You know more than anyone that we've been having problems for a long time, and it's best to go our separate ways."

I shook my head, trying to process this bombshell. My parents, divorcing? It couldn't be true. But the look on her face told me it was all too real.

I kept mute but my face spoke volumes.

"I'm sorry, dear," she replied impatiently, she was clearly done explaining over and over again. Her eyes, once bright and warm, now seemed dull and distant, like a cloudy mirror reflecting a faded image. She had completely changed, and I didn't need a genius to tell me it was because of my wish. Sukani's meddling had altered my mom, transforming her from a loving and nurturing person to a stranger I barely recognized. This was not the woman who had given birth to me, who had sung lullabies and wiped away my tears. No way!

"I know you don't want to hear it, but your father and I gave it a lot of thought," she continued, her words sounding rehearsed, like a scripted speech. "We are just not meant for each other. We love you and all...but this marriage can't work!" Her voice trailed off.

I still couldn't muster up the courage to say a word.

As I stood in stunned silence, gazing at the woman who was supposed to be my mom, I felt like I was trapped in a bad dream. Her words sounded like a rehearsed script, devoid of emotion. I thought to myself, "Isn't it a little early for me to see the aftermath of my wish? I'm only 14, still trying to figure out algebra and crushes, and now I'm dealing with the consequences of my own desires?

"And now, if you'll excuse me," she said, her voice laced with a hint of irritation, as she carefully placed the files she'd been clutching for so long into her luxurious leather bag. The soft creak of the bag's hinges seemed to echo through the tense silence. She then picked up a sleek, silver car key from the glass table, the light dancing across its polished surface. I couldn't help but notice it wasn't the familiar key to my dad's old mini van, but at that moment, I was too stunned to care. As she stood up, her high heels clicking against the marble floor, we heard a knock at the door. She let out a frustrated sigh, her eyes rolling heavenward. "Can't I get a break around here!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in exasperation. I just gazed at her, still reeling from her earlier words, my mind struggling to process the sudden shift in our lives. "Come in!" she called out, her tone dripping with annoyance. The door creaked open to reveal Williams, his eyes fixed on the floor as if studying the patterns in the marble. "Oh great! What on earth were you doing that you allowed him to get here!" she yelled, her finger jabbing in my direction as if I were an inanimate object. Her outburst made me wince, the sound echoing through the room like a slap. "Sorry, ma'am," Williams apologized profusely, regret evident in his voice. "It's fine, just get him out of here...I'm going to the court and I'll take care of some things. Perhaps I'll return today," she declared with a sense of urgency and importance. With that, she swept out of the room, the door slamming shut behind her with a resounding bang...