He awoke with the gentle hum of sunlight spilling over his bed, the kind of morning light that hinted at the promise of a calm, uneventful day. He groaned softly, stretching his arms wide above his head, feeling the satisfying pull of muscle and bone. But something felt off.
He rubbed his eyes and swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet meeting the cold wooden floor. He stood, but as he pushed up to his feet, he felt… taller. He frowned, confused. He glanced around his room and made his way toward the door, the usual rhythm of his movements suddenly out of sync. But when he reached for the handle, something completely unexpected happened.
*Thud.*
His head collided with the doorframe with an audible crack. He staggered back, dazed, and rubbed his forehead, confusion turning into alarm. His heart raced as he stared up at the doorframe, which now seemed lower than before, as if he’d grown—no, *towered*—over it.
He staggered backward, fumbling for his balance, then stopped short in front of the full-length mirror that hung on his bedroom wall. What he saw reflected back made his breath catch in his throat. The man in the mirror was familiar, yet completely foreign. His face was still his own, but his body… his body was *different*. He was noticeably taller, his limbs longer, his chest broader, his muscles more defined—*much* more defined.
His heart pounded in his chest. This couldn’t be real. He reached for his phone, but his hands were trembling. He pulled up his camera, snapping a photo of himself. The screen confirmed his worst fear—he was, without a doubt, no longer the man he had been just a few hours ago.
He spent the next few hours stumbling through his morning routine. He tried to get dressed, but his clothes no longer fit. His shirts were tight, his pants struggled to close around his waist. He even tried to put on shoes, but his feet had grown so much that they didn’t even come close to fitting.
He frantically searched online for any explanation, typing in phrases like *“Sudden height growth”* and *“Body transformation overnight.”* The results were a mix of articles about unusual medical conditions, some vague science fiction theories, and random social media posts. Nothing that could explain what had happened to him. The world around him seemed eerily unchanged, but he—*he* was different. He wasn’t sure if he should be terrified, amazed, or both.
By midday, he had consulted every health forum he could find, read a dozen articles on growth disorders, and even made a quick appointment with his doctor. But all the while, he kept coming back to the same terrifying thought: *What if there was no explanation?*
Exhausted, he slumped onto the couch, staring at the blank TV screen, his mind a whirl of questions that had no answers. His limbs ached from the effort of adjusting to his new body. It was as if his own skin was too small for him, like an old pair of shoes that had suddenly become too tight. The mirror seemed to mock him every time he glanced at it, reflecting a man who wasn’t quite himself, a man who didn’t fit into his own life anymore.
As the sun began to set, he felt the weight of the day catch up to him. He didn’t have the energy to keep searching, to keep wondering. He was defeated. Maybe it was just some freak accident. Maybe he was losing his mind.
He decided to go to bed early, hoping that sleep might bring some clarity—or at the very least, an escape. But as he crawled into bed, he quickly realized just how much his body had changed. His feet overhung the edge of the mattress. He adjusted his position, trying to stretch out, but it was futile. His legs were now too long to fit comfortably beneath the covers.
His mind raced as he lay there, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. How long would this last? Would it stop? And—more importantly—why did this happen to him?
The bed, once a place of comfort, now felt foreign to him, as if even the most mundane aspects of his life had shifted beyond recognition.
As he finally drifted off into an uneasy sleep, he couldn’t help but wonder if he'd ever wake up the same again.
The District - Washington Bullets Basketball
The Nobodies
**NBA Stars Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokić to Miss Start of 2024-2025 Season Due to Undisclosed Injuries**
*August 2024* – The basketball world was rocked this August as two of the NBA's brightest stars, Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokić, announced they will miss the start of the 2024-2025 season due to undisclosed injuries. The news, which has sent shockwaves through both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets, raises questions about their recovery timelines and the potential impact on their teams.
**Anthony Edwards: A Rising Star in Recovery**
Anthony Edwards, the dynamic guard who has quickly established himself as one of the NBA's most exciting young players, has been a central figure for the Timberwolves since his arrival in 2020. Edwards, known for his scoring ability, athleticism, and leadership on the floor, was expected to play a key role in the Timberwolves' quest for a deeper playoff run in the upcoming season.
However, sources close to the team confirmed that Edwards sustained an injury during offseason training. While the specifics of the injury have not been disclosed by the Timberwolves, early reports suggest that Edwards is undergoing a rehabilitation process. The team has not given an official timetable for his return, but experts are hopeful that his absence will be limited to only a few weeks to start the season.
The Timberwolves, who have made significant strides in recent years, will need other players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert to step up in Edwards' absence. The team’s aspirations for a successful 2024-2025 season will be directly affected by how well they can fill the void left by their star player.
**Nikola Jokić: A Delayed Start for the MVP**
On the other side of the NBA, reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets is facing his own injury setback. Jokić, who led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in franchise history last season, has been an instrumental part of the team’s success, earning his third MVP award in 2023 and showcasing his unique playmaking and scoring ability.
Though Jokić has been a fixture in the NBA's elite player pool, the exact nature of his injury remains unclear. The Nuggets have confirmed that Jokić is recovering from a condition that will prevent him from participating in the early portion of the 2024-2025 season. As with Edwards, the organization has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the injury, but the expectation is that Jokić’s recovery will take several weeks.
The Nuggets, as the defending champions, will face additional pressure to perform without their centerpiece player. With players like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. expected to take on larger roles, the team’s depth and cohesion will be tested early on. Denver will hope that Jokić's absence is temporary and that he will be back to full strength as soon as possible to continue the team's championship defense.
**What This Means for the NBA Landscape**
The absences of both Edwards and Jokić represent significant losses for their respective teams and the NBA as a whole. Edwards was poised to be one of the faces of the league for years to come, and his early absence will delay his opportunity to build on his already impressive career. Meanwhile, Jokić's presence as a multifaceted superstar was a key factor in the Nuggets' success, and any extended absence could threaten their ability to repeat as champions.
While the exact details of both players’ injuries remain undisclosed, the NBA community will be keeping a close eye on their recoveries as the season approaches. Teams that face off against the Timberwolves and Nuggets in the early part of the season will undoubtedly see these teams in a different light, and the absence of two elite players at the start of the campaign could shake up the league’s competitive balance.
For now, all eyes are on the recovery timelines of Edwards and Jokić, with fans and analysts alike hoping for swift returns from two of the league’s most electrifying talents. As the season progresses, the basketball world will await updates on their status, while their teams prepare to navigate the challenges of competing without their stars in the opening weeks of the season.
*August 2024* – The basketball world was rocked this August as two of the NBA's brightest stars, Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokić, announced they will miss the start of the 2024-2025 season due to undisclosed injuries. The news, which has sent shockwaves through both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets, raises questions about their recovery timelines and the potential impact on their teams.
**Anthony Edwards: A Rising Star in Recovery**
Anthony Edwards, the dynamic guard who has quickly established himself as one of the NBA's most exciting young players, has been a central figure for the Timberwolves since his arrival in 2020. Edwards, known for his scoring ability, athleticism, and leadership on the floor, was expected to play a key role in the Timberwolves' quest for a deeper playoff run in the upcoming season.
However, sources close to the team confirmed that Edwards sustained an injury during offseason training. While the specifics of the injury have not been disclosed by the Timberwolves, early reports suggest that Edwards is undergoing a rehabilitation process. The team has not given an official timetable for his return, but experts are hopeful that his absence will be limited to only a few weeks to start the season.
The Timberwolves, who have made significant strides in recent years, will need other players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert to step up in Edwards' absence. The team’s aspirations for a successful 2024-2025 season will be directly affected by how well they can fill the void left by their star player.
**Nikola Jokić: A Delayed Start for the MVP**
On the other side of the NBA, reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets is facing his own injury setback. Jokić, who led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in franchise history last season, has been an instrumental part of the team’s success, earning his third MVP award in 2023 and showcasing his unique playmaking and scoring ability.
Though Jokić has been a fixture in the NBA's elite player pool, the exact nature of his injury remains unclear. The Nuggets have confirmed that Jokić is recovering from a condition that will prevent him from participating in the early portion of the 2024-2025 season. As with Edwards, the organization has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the injury, but the expectation is that Jokić’s recovery will take several weeks.
The Nuggets, as the defending champions, will face additional pressure to perform without their centerpiece player. With players like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. expected to take on larger roles, the team’s depth and cohesion will be tested early on. Denver will hope that Jokić's absence is temporary and that he will be back to full strength as soon as possible to continue the team's championship defense.
**What This Means for the NBA Landscape**
The absences of both Edwards and Jokić represent significant losses for their respective teams and the NBA as a whole. Edwards was poised to be one of the faces of the league for years to come, and his early absence will delay his opportunity to build on his already impressive career. Meanwhile, Jokić's presence as a multifaceted superstar was a key factor in the Nuggets' success, and any extended absence could threaten their ability to repeat as champions.
While the exact details of both players’ injuries remain undisclosed, the NBA community will be keeping a close eye on their recoveries as the season approaches. Teams that face off against the Timberwolves and Nuggets in the early part of the season will undoubtedly see these teams in a different light, and the absence of two elite players at the start of the campaign could shake up the league’s competitive balance.
For now, all eyes are on the recovery timelines of Edwards and Jokić, with fans and analysts alike hoping for swift returns from two of the league’s most electrifying talents. As the season progresses, the basketball world will await updates on their status, while their teams prepare to navigate the challenges of competing without their stars in the opening weeks of the season.
The Nobodies
The glow of the computer screen was the only light in the otherwise dim room. He leaned forward, rereading the Reddit post for the third time, his pulse hammering in his ears. The words mirrored his own experience too perfectly to ignore—overnight growth, a body that no longer felt like his own, confusion, isolation. It felt surreal to see someone else describe it, as if they had reached into his mind and transcribed his fears onto the screen.
His fingers trembled as he typed out a response, his stomach twisting with anxiety. This is going to sound crazy, but the same thing happened to me. I woke up taller, stronger—different. I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t know who to talk to. Please tell me I’m not losing my mind.
He hesitated before hitting send, half-expecting the post to be some kind of joke. But before he could second-guess himself, a notification popped up: a reply.
You’re not crazy.
His breath hitched.
The reply came from a user named Kaxix.
I’ve been dealing with this for days. I’ve searched everywhere, but there’s no explanation. No doctors, no science, no logical reasoning. Just this… change. And you’re the first person I’ve found who’s experiencing it too.
He exhaled, his hands tightening around the edge of his desk.
How much have you changed? he asked.
Not as dramatically as you, came the response. Grew a few inches taller. Some muscle definition, but nothing extreme. Enough to notice. Enough to freak me out.
He sat back, processing this. Was he some kind of anomaly? If others were experiencing this, why was his transformation so severe?
Have you found anyone else? he asked.
Not yet, Kaxix replied. But I have a feeling we’re not alone. What if this is happening to more people, and they just haven’t spoken up?
A shiver ran down his spine. The thought that this could be widespread—an invisible phenomenon sweeping through unsuspecting people—made the world feel even more alien than it already did.
We should talk, he typed. Properly. Maybe we can figure something out together.
Agreed. Exchange numbers?
He hesitated only a moment before sending his. Almost instantly, his phone buzzed. A text.
Unknown Number: Got it. Let’s talk tomorrow. We need to figure out what the hell is happening to us.
He stared at the screen, a strange mix of relief and apprehension settling in his chest. He wasn’t alone.
But that only led to a more unsettling question: If this was happening to more than one person… what did it mean?
---
The next morning, he awoke groggy, his body still adjusting to its unfamiliar dimensions. His phone vibrated on the nightstand, the screen flashing with a new message from the unknown number.
Unknown Number: Hey. You up?
He rubbed his face before replying. Yeah. Barely. You find anything else?
Unknown Number: Not much. But I did come across another post. Someone else describing weird changes.
His stomach tightened. Send me the link.
Seconds later, a Reddit thread appeared in his inbox. He clicked it open, eyes scanning the post rapidly. It was eerily similar to theirs—sudden growth, confusion, secrecy. But what chilled him most was the last line of the post:
I feel like I'm being watched.
He swallowed hard, his mind racing. Had he imagined the strange feeling that had been nagging at him for the past few days? The sense that something, or someone, was observing him? The paranoia clawed at the back of his mind, making the shadows in the room seem deeper, the silence heavier.
His phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number: We should meet.
He hesitated. The thought of stepping outside felt daunting—his body, his identity, everything about him felt unstable. What if someone noticed how much he had changed? What if stepping into the world confirmed that he no longer belonged in it? But if this was bigger than just the two of them, staying isolated wouldn’t give him any answers.
He let out a slow breath, staring at his reflection in the dark screen of his laptop. The man who looked back at him was someone new, someone uncertain.
Okay, he typed. Where?
His fingers trembled as he typed out a response, his stomach twisting with anxiety. This is going to sound crazy, but the same thing happened to me. I woke up taller, stronger—different. I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t know who to talk to. Please tell me I’m not losing my mind.
He hesitated before hitting send, half-expecting the post to be some kind of joke. But before he could second-guess himself, a notification popped up: a reply.
You’re not crazy.
His breath hitched.
The reply came from a user named Kaxix.
I’ve been dealing with this for days. I’ve searched everywhere, but there’s no explanation. No doctors, no science, no logical reasoning. Just this… change. And you’re the first person I’ve found who’s experiencing it too.
He exhaled, his hands tightening around the edge of his desk.
How much have you changed? he asked.
Not as dramatically as you, came the response. Grew a few inches taller. Some muscle definition, but nothing extreme. Enough to notice. Enough to freak me out.
He sat back, processing this. Was he some kind of anomaly? If others were experiencing this, why was his transformation so severe?
Have you found anyone else? he asked.
Not yet, Kaxix replied. But I have a feeling we’re not alone. What if this is happening to more people, and they just haven’t spoken up?
A shiver ran down his spine. The thought that this could be widespread—an invisible phenomenon sweeping through unsuspecting people—made the world feel even more alien than it already did.
We should talk, he typed. Properly. Maybe we can figure something out together.
Agreed. Exchange numbers?
He hesitated only a moment before sending his. Almost instantly, his phone buzzed. A text.
Unknown Number: Got it. Let’s talk tomorrow. We need to figure out what the hell is happening to us.
He stared at the screen, a strange mix of relief and apprehension settling in his chest. He wasn’t alone.
But that only led to a more unsettling question: If this was happening to more than one person… what did it mean?
---
The next morning, he awoke groggy, his body still adjusting to its unfamiliar dimensions. His phone vibrated on the nightstand, the screen flashing with a new message from the unknown number.
Unknown Number: Hey. You up?
He rubbed his face before replying. Yeah. Barely. You find anything else?
Unknown Number: Not much. But I did come across another post. Someone else describing weird changes.
His stomach tightened. Send me the link.
Seconds later, a Reddit thread appeared in his inbox. He clicked it open, eyes scanning the post rapidly. It was eerily similar to theirs—sudden growth, confusion, secrecy. But what chilled him most was the last line of the post:
I feel like I'm being watched.
He swallowed hard, his mind racing. Had he imagined the strange feeling that had been nagging at him for the past few days? The sense that something, or someone, was observing him? The paranoia clawed at the back of his mind, making the shadows in the room seem deeper, the silence heavier.
His phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number: We should meet.
He hesitated. The thought of stepping outside felt daunting—his body, his identity, everything about him felt unstable. What if someone noticed how much he had changed? What if stepping into the world confirmed that he no longer belonged in it? But if this was bigger than just the two of them, staying isolated wouldn’t give him any answers.
He let out a slow breath, staring at his reflection in the dark screen of his laptop. The man who looked back at him was someone new, someone uncertain.
Okay, he typed. Where?