Seeing the woman who’d ruined my life, I got very angry. “What are you doing here!?”

Looking at me, Jamila said, "I need your help."

“Get out!” That made me angrier. “You must be dumber than you look, if you think I’m going to help you!”

Before Jamila could respond, the door opened and Erin walked into the room; an extremely worried look on her face. Seeing Jamila, she said, “Who are you?”

Gesturing to Jamila, I said, “She’s the bitch who ruined my life.”

I no sooner finished speaking when Erin walked and seized Jamila by the throat. “You did this? Why?”

“You have no idea what it’s like being sealed in a lamp for 750 years. I was desperate; and for that I’m sorry.” Gasping for breath, Erin’s choke hold blocking her airway, Jamila said, “I-I came for your h-help; I-I don’t kno-know any-anything about this wo-world. It’s all…different.”

With Jamila still in a choke hold, Erin turned to me. “Carly, your parents acted really weird when I called them. They…”

Gasping for air, Jamila said, “Acted like your friend’s always been a girl." Jamila was almost to the point of passing out, as she gasped for air. “I guess you tried to turn her back but it didn’t work.”

"That’s right." Pausing, in a low voice, I said, “Before we strangle you; can you tell us what’s going on?”