Indeed, of everything this primordial world offered in its prime, only one thing endured -- and endures still.That thing is an old, battered lamp. The...lamp appears in different universes at different times, waiting for thousands of years sometimes. But eventually, it's always found... and the person who first cleans the lamp invokes its power -- the power of Ovyah, the Djinn of Lust.That's me -- but don't worry. I don't narrate this whole story. I'm just the reason for it.In my original land I. He would have a job waiting for him as a computer programmer when he got out of prison. Life was turning around for him. But his mind kept thinking of Crystal. Six weeks ago, John was released from prison. John decided to visit Bernie. Bernie seemed nervous to see him. It was then that John discovered that Bernie & Crystal was going to get married. He masked his disappointment by congratulating his friend, telling him that the best man had won. Bernie asked if John would be his best man at the. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.But, here it is ... my friends are retired and getting grey ... they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me ... but, I. Almost. Trent, her date, had taken her to a cheap restaurantalong with two other couples. Three senior boys eachwith a freshman date. They had stayed barely half anhour at the dance, not even long enough to get theirpicture made, then Trent was dragging her out, sayingthey had a party to go to. The party turned out to behis two buddies and their dates down by the lake. Hetried to have his way with her, and at first (sheadmitted, after much coaxing) she had been willing. They kissed, petted.