Preface

Quantum Filaments, here afterward referred to as QUFITs instantly transfer characteristics between two individuals. First recorded in 2015 they recur annually. A previously unknown phenomenon they first appeared on October 31st in Denver, Colorado, United States at approximately 1610 hours local time. Just days ahead of the annual Leonid meteor showers, many amateur astronomers mistakenly claimed they were only part of a highly active cycle of meteor showers or the intense Aurora Borealis. For several days many governments around the world thought it better to allow that explanation to persist rather than admit this was a phenomenon that was unknown to current science and whose impact could not be predicted.

Humans are the only known life forms impacted by the QUFITs. Persons changed by an annual QUFIT fall appear to be wholly immune to any subsequent falls. The transference between individuals can be either physical or mental. The number of changes visited upon a person has ranged from one to eighteen individual "swaps".

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"Hey Scott, come over tonight. No one will be here."

"No one? Not even your annoying sister Melinda?"

"No, she's in a school play or musical or something. My parents are going to see her, so we'll have the place to ourselves."

"Great, she's always so annoying. She's like always around."

"She likes you. You're the older man in her life."

"She's thirteen. Maybe in a couple of years. But thirteen and braces...I don't think so."

"You don't think my little sister is hot?"

"Do you?"

"She's my sister."

"As long as she won't be there. What will we do?"

"Nothing special. Hang out watch a movie on Netflix or Amazon. You know, whatever."

"OK, when should I be over."

"Anytime after six. I'll get some snacks."

"Six it is."

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"Justin, I'm sorry you can't come and see Melinda's show. But it was only two tickets per family," Mom reminded him.

"Don't worry. There is always next time."

"We'll be back not too late. The show is about two hours and then we'll get a bite to eat after. So we'll be home about ten."

"Fine."

Mom, Dad and Melinda left the house, a moment later, Mom returned.

"Justin, you have to see this."

"What is it?"

"Shooting stars, it's really nice. You have to see them."

"I think I saw one ones."

"They are all over and really colorful."

"OK, OK."

Justin followed his mother outside. Dad and Melinda were already there looking up.

Mom and dad were unaffected by the QUFIT, but Melinda and her sixteen-year-old brother were. Melinda no long had a crush on Scott. She didn't feel that way for any guy anymore. Justin was the person who had a crush on Scott.