I was running late again. Why do I always get caught up in these endless discussions after class? Quantum physics, theories about the expanding universe—all that fascinates me, but damn it, I should have left earlier. My swimming practice isn’t going to wait for me, and given that I’m not exactly an athletic prodigy, missing sessions isn’t exactly ideal. With my slender build and a few centimeters below average height, I have to admit that swimming is more for the lifeguard certification than for sculpting an athlete's physique.
I glance at my watch and sigh. I’m really behind schedule. Paris Diderot University is beautiful, but crossing all of Paris to get to the pool isn’t as fun. I dash towards the exit, my short hair still tousled despite the gel I put on this morning. At least I still have that faux-casual look that I quite like.
As I cross the small green space in front of the subway station, something on the ground catches my eye. It’s silly, but something makes me stop and bend down to see what it is. There, in the grass, is a coin. Not a euro, that’s clear, but it’s about the same size. I pick it up, intrigued. The metal is cold under my fingers, and I notice a strange inscription: "3 wishes."
I shake my head, smiling. "3 wishes," seriously? Who still believes in that? Certainly not me, but I slip it into my pocket anyway. It’ll make for a good conversation starter later. Maybe I can make a silly bet with my friends: whoever comes up with the most absurd story about this coin wins a round.
I continue my frantic pace, dodging pedestrians on the street. The subway won’t wait for me. I race down the stairs to line 14, my breath already a bit ragged. The subway doors close just behind me. Phew. Saved, for now.
I collapse into a seat, out of breath, and pull out my phone to check my route. Line 14 to Châtelet, then line B to Cité Universitaire. With a bit of luck, I’ll only miss ten minutes of practice. I settle more comfortably in my seat, my gaze lost in the sleek lines of the station as the subway starts smoothly. That’s when I think about the coin.
I take it out of my pocket, spinning it between my fingers. The inscription "3 wishes" makes me smile again. It’s all so ridiculous. I’ve never believed in magic; that’s for kids. But hey, why not play along? Just for fun, I murmur: "I wish to get to my practice as quickly as possible."
No sooner have the words left my mouth than the subway lights go out abruptly. A moment of panic crosses my mind. A breakdown? That’s just what I needed. Great, I’m going to be even later. But before I can really worry, the lights come back on. I blink, feeling a strange sensation. Something has changed.
I look around, my heart pounding faster. It’s no longer line 14. The seats are different, the atmosphere is not the same. I stare at the station display scrolling above the train. "Next station: Cité Universitaire." Impossible. I’m on the RER B. How could…?
The subway slows down and comes to a smooth stop. I get up, my legs slightly trembling. The doors open, and I step out, still in shock. The Cité Universitaire station stretches out before me, familiar yet disorienting. I clutch the coin in my hand, as if it holds the key to understanding what just happened.
I check my watch. 3:40 PM. No, this can’t be. I’m twenty minutes early. How…? I must be dreaming. Yes, that’s it, a dream. I shake my head, trying to convince myself that this is all just a figment of my imagination. And yet, the coin is still there, as cold and as real in my hand.
I head towards the exit, my mind in a fog. What just happened defies all logic, all rationality, and yet it’s undeniable. My feet lead me automatically towards the pool, but my mind is elsewhere, buzzing with questions. The coin. That strange coin with its absurd inscription. Could it… could it really be possible? No, it’s absurd. Magic doesn’t exist; it’s just a fairy tale.
And yet, here I am, twenty minutes early instead of late. Thoughts clash in my head, my memories of physics, logic, and science crumbling in the face of the inexplicable. But if it’s not magic… then what is it?