Rewrite the ending so Kira, touched by how much Charlie love her, decides to willingly drink the potion: From the moment Charlie met Kira, she knew they were destined to be friends forever. Hours spent in treehouses discussing fantasies and playing various video games late into the night created the strongest bond Charlie had ever known. Although Charlie was a tomboy who loved climbing trees and dirt biking, Kira was the more girly type: she liked dressing up sometimes and doing makeup every now and then.

Over time, these two vastly different girls had grown inseparable, each discovering a new side of themselves through each other’s company. However, it was during their late teenage years when Charlie began noticing a shift in her feelings. The feelings that started as innocent admiration grew into unrequited love. Charlie loved Kira so deeply that the thought of losing her terrified her to the core.

There was only one problem: Kira was undeniably attracted to guys.

As these feelings began to threaten Charlie’s friendship with Kira, desperation grew. Rumors of a witch that lived in the outskirts of town began to circulate among their circle of friends. The witch supposedly had potions for just about anything - youth, love, and even wealth.

“I don’t have all day — whaddya need?” The witch was slouched at a table in the back corner of her shop, gnawing on an apple as smoke from her pipe filled the room.

Charlie hesitated, swallowing her pride. “I-uh… need a potion that can change someone’s sexual orientation,” she mumbled.

The witch scoffed. “You really think love works that way, huh?” She raised an eyebrow and leaned back, considering the girl in front of her. It was clear that Charlie wasn’t there for any malicious or selfish intent. Rather, she just seemed desperate and a little lost.

Charlie’s eyes filled with desperation. “Please… I need this,” she whispered.

Just as the silence began to grow unbearable, the witch sighed and grabbed an old tome from the shelf. As she leafed through the pages, the corners crackled and the room seemed to fall even darker. Upon finding the correct page, the witch glanced at Charlie before starting to gather ingredients.

Half an hour later, the potion was mixed and contained within a tiny vial. “Now, listen kid,” the witch began, locking her beady eyes on Charlie. “If you give this to your friend, they won’t know what it is. And when it does its job, they won’t remember ever feeling otherwise. But you have to ask yourself: is it worth it? Is it worth tampering with who they really are?”

Charlie hesitated for a moment. The witch had a point, and something about this felt incredibly wrong. However, thoughts of losing Kira or going through life knowing that Kira could never love her that way consumed Charlie. She made up her mind and took the vial.

As Charlie walked out of the cave, she thought of the day she and Kira met, the laughter they shared, and the way Kira lightly touched her arm when she talked. She thought about how they climbed trees together, how Kira cheered her on during dirt bike races, and who Kira really was. A brief flash of realization hit Charlie like a punch to the gut.

By the time she arrived at Kira’s house, she was crying. Kira opened the door, taken aback by her tear-streaked face. “Charlie, what’s wrong? What happened?”

Charlie looked down at the vial clenched tightly in her hand. With a deep breath, she raised her eyes, meeting Kira’s concerned gaze. “Kira… I- I can’t do this to you. I love you,” she confessed, her voice wavering.

For the longest moment, Kira stood there, speechless. The words perhaps had not been what she expected.

Charlie continued, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I can’t change who you are. It’s not fair to you. If we can’t have each other, it doesn’t mean I’ll love you any less.”

Kira stepped forward, embracing Charlie tightly. “Charlie, you mean…” she paused, searching for words. “I love you too, Charlie. Maybe not exactly how you want, but I don’t ever want to let you go.”

Charlie hugged her back tightly, relief washing over her. While it wasn’t a romantic confession, it was all Charlie needed to keep Kira in her life.

They stood there together, two friends embracing, and the potion remained untouched.