FUR TO FLESH; my birthday wish

Andrea Being a lion is no easy thing. It is more like sour lemonade than a sweet strawberry tart. Every morning, Daddy and I go hunting, running after wild animals through the tall grass. Sometimes, I get a little carried away and drift off into my own thoughts, watching humans from a distance—laughing, chatting, living in ways I could only imagine. It may sound strange… but I wish I were human. I have been telling you my sad little story for so long that I completely forgot to introduce myself. My name is Andrea. “Andrea!” Mom’s voice suddenly rang through the room as she rushed in, ruining my dramatic introduction. “Mommy,” I sobbed dramatically, acting childish. “You ruined my intro.” “Stop it, sweetie,” she said with a smile. “Do you know what day it is today?” “Is it… Every Lion’s Day?” I guessed, glancing back at her from the window. Her smile widened. My eyes lit up. “Oh my gosh… is it my birthday?” I gasped. “Actually—it is my birthday!” I screamed, jumping up and down in excitement. “Yes, yes, sweetie, you nailed it,” Mom laughed softly. “It is your birthday.” Then her expression changed. “But your eighteenth birthday comes with a responsibility,” she said more seriously. “The wish you make today gets to come true. You are a princess, remember that—and act smart.” Outside my room, lions suddenly roared. A powerful gait approached. And just like that, I knew. The King of Kings had arrived. My father. The emperor. The most feared lion in the entire kingdom. He stepped into my room with an overwhelming presence, and for a second, even the air felt too heavy to breathe. He grabbed me firmly by the collar and looked straight into my eyes. “Child,” he said, his voice deep and commanding, “life is like a game. You keep playing to win.” But I don’t want to win, I whispered silently in my thoughts. “Make a decision that will make the entire lion kingdom worship you,” he continued. Mom stepped closer, gently rubbing her neck against mine. “I trust you, sweetie,” she whispered. For one small second, I almost felt safe. But of course, my father had to ruin the moment. “Don’t embarrass me, Andrea,” he said coldly before turning and leaving the room. Mom followed after him, and just like that, I was left alone with my thoughts. “Andrea! Andry! Snap out of it, thought-lion!” Kallisti stamped her paws against the floor dramatically. I blinked and turned to her. “Hi, Kallisti,” I said, pretending I had not been completely lost in my thoughts just moments ago. Oh, I almost forgot to introduce Kallisti. She is my personal maid… but honestly, she feels more like a sister than a servant. “Sweetie,” she asked softly, her voice low and gentle, “is the wish strangling you?” I looked at her, my chest suddenly feeling heavy. “Kallisti… it might sound awkward, but I wish to be—” Before I could finish, she quickly placed her paw over my lips. “Sweetie,” she whispered, “wishes don’t come true when you tell them to someone.” I froze. A tear slipped down my cheek as a thought crossed my mind. Does she really care about me that much? Without saying another word, I threw my arms around her and hugged her tightly. “You are the best, Kallisti,” I whispered. “You are one in a million.” Then I kissed her forehead. “I got you, sweetie,” she whispered back with a giggle. Then she pulled away slightly and smiled. “You are sobbing on your birthday, girl? No.” She gently wiped the dust off my crown and carefully placed it on my head. “Your Majesty,” she said dramatically, bowing a little before wiping my tears. “Are you ready? Everyone is waiting for you.” I glanced outside. A whole pride of lions had gathered beyond the palace grounds. My heart skipped. “Let’s go, sweetheart,” Kallisti said. We giggled softly and walked out together. Everywhere I passed, lions roared. The grand hall had been freshly decorated, glowing with celebration and royal pride. “The future queen, Princess Andrea Leo, is arriving!” one of the lion guards announced loudly as I stepped into the hall. In an instant, all eyes were on me. I was the center of attention. The limelight. I spotted my favorite meal immediately—fresh duiker meat served beautifully on the dining rock. I took my seat on the royal throne rock. Mommy sat on my right. Daddy sat on my left. And Kallisti stood behind me. She always had my back. The lions feasted, danced, and celebrated wildly. For a moment, everything almost felt perfect. Until Daddy decided it was time. It was time for me to say my wish out loud. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A magical glow filled the hall. Then the Queen Fairy arrived. She floated gracefully into the center of the hall and began chanting mysterious words in an ancient lingo I could barely understand. Moments later, a tiny fairy godmother appeared. She raised her delicate hands and created a shimmering bubble in the air. Then she looked at me and said: “Say your wish out loud… then blow the bubble away.” I hesitated. My heartbeat pounded in my ears. “Say it!” Daddy roared. I shut my eyes tightly and screamed— “I want to be a human for seven days!” And before fear could stop me, I blew the bubble away. The entire pride gasped. Silence crashed over the hall. “What? Impossible!” Daddy thundered, rising from his place as his furious gait echoed toward me. Murmurs broke out across the hall. “Is this what the king taught the princess?” a random lion shouted. “Immoral, rebellious—she does not respect her part!” “Yes! Yes!” the pride agreed. Their voices rose louder and louder until it felt like the whole kingdom had turned against me. Daddy came closer, his eyes burning with anger. “I told you not to embarrass me, Andrea!” he shouted. Then, in rage, he raised his paw to slap me. But before it could reach me— Kallisti jumped in between us. The slap landed on her instead. The sound echoed through the hall. Everything inside me froze. “My king, respect her wish,” Kallisti said, bowing her head despite the pain. Daddy shoved her aside violently. She fell to the ground. “Kallisti!” I screamed. I turned desperately and looked at Mom. She was staring at me in shock. “Sweetie…” she whispered. “Mom…” I cried. But she stepped back. Kallisti let out a painful grunt. I dropped to the ground beside her, wrapped my arms around her, and cried. And then— suddenly— I disappeared into my new world