THE END

It seemed like a good idea at the time, and my heart was in the right place. First I wished for lasting world peace, and then for the end of war.
Finally, I said, “I want to live forever.”
“Fine,” replied the genie.
I felt a rush of power, like a sudden wind. I exploded first the room and then the very building I had occupied only moments ago. I became suddenly aware of a burning smell: friction. The result of my skin moving against the atmosphere. The giddiness seized me. I was to be God on Earth; a giant among men. I would hold power as none before me had dreamed; worshipped, exalted, most high. But something was wrong.
As I grew larger and larger still, my joyous rage turned to cold fear in the pit of my stomach, which by now I could no longer identify, such was the phenomenal rate of my growth.
As I stood anchored in one spot, my feet grew larger exponentially leaving twin concentric paths of destruction, plowing aside man-made structures and majestic mountains alike, until I finally had the presence of mind to leap into the air to prevent further damage. By the time gravity could act and cause me to drift back toward what I had recognized for my entire career as a human being to be “down,” it had simply changed to “over there.” I was now floating free in space; the burning in my feet and legs had subsided. I remember marveling briefly that my body had maintained its necessary molecular cohesion to this point, but how long would this last?
I craned my head backwards to see where I was headed (My God, how long that seemed to take!) and by the time I was able to look down toward my feet-- that is, toward the direction of Earth-- it had become a rapidly disappearing blue marble. That’s it. That was my home. I became aware of a great fear welling up inside me. I began to feel extremely cold, except for the top of my head, which was growing unbearably hot. And I was getting faint. I happened to see movement from the corner of my eye and, before I could fully turn my head, the moon struck me in the face. It survived the impact by-- how do I put this-- passing through me. Everything was happening too fast. I was growing larger still. My arms were only now shielding my face as a delayed reaction to the moon’s impact, and I could see right through them.
“This is it,” I thought (rather calmly, I might add). “This is the moment of my death.”
I looked out across the galaxy before me, and I remember thinking how beautiful it all was; indescribable.
“Your wish is granted,” said a voice.
And then all went black.