Surviving, without living.

There once was a boy in his late teens. Young was he still, but he felt time ticking everyday.

This boy was lonely, depressed, without a meaning, surviving everyday aimlessly without really living. His body was there, but his mind gone.

He was forced to operate a body he didn't feel belonged to him.

That made him very unsure of himself. He felt like his mind and actions weren't connecting.

Isolating is what he did. Socializing? He'd rather be dead.

This poor boy truly believed it was over. Yet there was one thing he wished for more than anything. A partner. A girl, that could finally give him the strength to work with his own flesh prison.

He knew that was the only thing missing. The last piece of the puzzle.

One day, this boy found himself alone with one of his friends, who actually was a girl. He didn't see anything happening though. After all, they had been friends for years.

The two friends were watching a film together. They were lying close in bed. He knew what he felt at the moment, but was convinced it was all in a friendly manner.

The girl suddenly paused the film, and turned her head to look at him. She looked innocent, friendly, comforting. Like the loving mother he wish he had.

She looked in his eyes, then at his lips, then back at his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I can't focus on the movie right now... I've been planning to tell you something all day."

The boy froze. Was this finally his moment?

"Surely not..." He thought to himself. This boy would wake up late every morning, and when he went to look in the mirror, he... Saw nothing.

The reflection empty, soulless, hopeless, devoid of anything that makes a person. The boy stared at the mirror and convinced himself he saw something.... Even just the smallest ball of light. But nothing. He saw right through himself. He knew he was nothing. ***, the mirror he was staring at might as well be worth more.

He closed his eyes, since the mirror gave him nothing. He wished. He prayed. He hoped.

He told himself, "I would give up what makes me human, if only someone would love me."

He felt a shock go through him, then nothing.

Suddenly, he heard the girls voice...

"But maybe I should just show you instead..."

Her voice echoed in his head. And then. He felt her lips, sealing together with his. At that very moment, he felt what he had been searching for his whole life. Genuine, unconditional love. A true connection. And... control. He closed his eyes and let the feelings guide him. After what felt like only a few seconds... he opened his eyes. He felt like his body finally reacted to what he wanted. He saw the girl smiling and blushing at him.

Then... he looked down. He saw a body that wasn't his. It wasn't even the body he had before. His body was... something not even remotely close to human. He could finally connect his mind to his body, but at what cost?

He froze, then looked at the girl. He shed a tear.

Two of his wishes, had come true.