Age TF Photostories: 12 Candles

My newest multichoice story. A lot more convulted than the others, so pay attention to the Wizard's instructions.

Whatever the choices you make, be sure to revisit it and xplore the other options. In all, there are 36 captions on this post!

And comment!

Your name is Edith, and today is your 12^th. Birthday.

Though some may think it would be a happy day for you, it only served to underline how lonely you really were. None of your classmates had even remembered your Birthday, and your parents had just said “Happy Birthday” and then they gave you five bucks. That of course was the warmest behavior they had towards you in a very long time, and you knew an equally long time would pass before they acknowledged your existence again. What was exactly that people seemed to dislike so much about you? You were a caring and intelligent girl, but you supposed some people simply were born without luck. You hated your life.

“I want out!” you whispered aloud, without realizing it.

“And that can be arranged,” said a voice behind you.

You gasped. You had been wandering in the mall, looking for something to buy for yourself as a gift. Candy, you guessed, as you only had 5 dollars. You had walked absentmindedly inside a curious-looking store. It was obvious the things they sold would be too expensive for you, but you at least wanted to see them.

The man who had talked had to be the shopkeeper, since he was behind the counter. He was old and slim, and seemed wise and crazy in equal amounts.

“Excuse me?”

“You want out of your life, and that’s kind of my specialty, Edith. I know you’re unwanted by your family, that you have no real friendships, and that you feel you’re meant for much more. And before you ask how, I must simply tell you I’m a Wizard.”

After all that, you really didn’t feel like doubting him. So instead of questioning his knowledge, you asked him what you really want to know:

“Can you really change my life?”

“Almost every object in this store will change your life in some way or another. But I think you need the most complete kind of change. To become a whole new person.”

You nodded, marveled.

“If you could, what kind of life would you chose?

“I’d like to be quite free. I would need to be an adult for that. And I would like to have an interesting life. Be noticed… Beautiful, even.” You blushed at your declaration.

The Wizard smiled and he produced a small wooden box.

“What would you say if I told you this isn’t your only life? There are thousands of parallel existences and you exist, in some form, in every one of them. Maybe in some you’re a man. You’re probably already dead in others. There are 12 magic candles inside this box. Each one of them only works in an specific month of the year. Lightening and then blowing each one will immediately transport you into another one of those realities.”

You wouldn’t even know what to answer. So you didn’t.

“I don’t know which 12 parallel realities these candles contain, but I promise you you’ll be alive in all of them.”

“What about the ones where I’m a boy?,” you asked worried. He just laughed.

“Those are out too. You would be a grown and attractive woman in every one of them, just like you wanted. About the freedom… well, you might find every person in every reality has problems of their own, and that maybe they don’t feel free all the time.”

You suddenly snapped out, understanding the dream was impossible.

“I’m sorry. I can only give you 5 dollars. I won’t be able to buy it,” you confessed sadly.

“Keep the money. Consider this a Birthday present.”

Too good to be true, but you knew it was.

“Thanks… Are there… rules?”

“Everything here has its own laws. For one, the first time you use them, you can ONLY pick the candle that belongs to your actual month of birth. Your body will transform into that of the person you are on the other reality, and you’ll be transported there. You’ll have some time to experience your new life, then exactly one month to the day after you used the candle, you must DECIDE IF YOU’LL STAY OR NOT,”

“How do I do that?”

“If you think you’ll like the life you’re in, you must simply dispose of the Candle Box. That symbolic act will render the candles powerless and you’ll stay in your current reality FOREVER.”

“And what do I do if I don’t like my life?”

“You’ll also need to endure one complete month in your new body. Then, when it’s over, you merely use your next candle. You’ll shrink back into your original form for a few seconds, then you’ll be transported to the next life and so on. But be careful! You only have 12 candles, and if you use them all, you’ll be stuck in your 12th. reality. That is, the one belonging to the month preceding your birthday, thus completing the circle. So, if you think you’ll enjoy one life, I’d advice you to keep it! You might not like the next one so much!”

It sounded dangerous. What if your new life was worse than this one? But you took the gift without further consideration. You would regret it forever if you missed the chance. You thanked the man and went out. When you turned back, the store wasn’t there any more.

You walked to the bakery and used your 5 dollars to buy a cupcake. You returned home (your parents weren’t even there) and went into your room.

You pulled out the Candle Box and opened it. Each candle was labeled with a different month. You pulled out the one marked with YOUR BIRTHDAY MONTH and put it into the cupcake. You took a good bite from it, since you knew you wouldn’t be able to eat it later.

You had brought some matches from the kitchen, and you lit the candle. Taking a good look at your reflection and waving goodbye to it, taking a good look at your reflection and waving goodbye to it, you blew it.

Immediately, everything around you began to spin. It was as if you were inside a whirlwind’s vortex. You couldn’t see anything but a colorful blur, and there was a whooshing sound coming from everywhere. Then your body started to shake, as it slowly enlarged and changed…

Select your Birthday month:

JANUARY