Breakup

  

- "This is the only thing that has changed, Susan. But inside I'm still me. I'm still the man you were supposed to marry." 

- "I'm sorry, Jacob, but this transformation is too much for me. Not only your face has changed, but your whole biology. You and I could never have children." 

- "I know, but we could find an alternative..." 

- "Being a mother has always been my dream, and I need to find a man who can be the father of my children, sorry Jacob." 

- "So it's really over? You give up like this?" 

- "And what should I do? We tried for 6 months to track down your crazy ex to make her undo the spell that transformed you, but she has disappeared into thin air. We didn't find any way to give you back your body. We didn't make any progress in any research. We tried. I tried. But I can't take it anymore. I don't feel like continuing a relationship with a female body, even if there is a man inside. Although I love his personality. I am sorry. I'm really sorry." 

- "I don't know what to say. I didn't suffer like this even in the first days after the transformation. Because I knew I still had you by my side, and you were the most important thing in my life. But now I'm sure of one thing: my ex succeeded in her intent. She destroyed my life." 

- "Don't say that... Your life is not over. You will find a suitable partner for the "new you", you'll be happy again. And I will always be there if you need help. I really hope we will be good friends." 

- "It's too early to talk about it. Now I just need to be alone." *whispering as he/she walks away* "And to cry. Cry a lot. One of the few good things about having this body is that I can cry as much as I want."

Don't strain yourself

*Voiceover*: "Don't strain yourself. You won't be able to talk or move for at least another hour, thanks to the herbs I gave you. Well, my work here is done. I think I'll go back to MY home. My big, beautiful home. Take it easy in this little studio apartment of yours. Within two to three hours you should be moving normally, with no side effects. I was quick, I finished well in advance. I thought I needed more time to steal every single part of your body. While we're at it, I'd like to ask you something: did you really think I liked you? Such a shy and insecure man? I'm sorry, but I've been dating you these three months just to get information and be able to steal your life without any problems. But look on the bright side: your personality made you a pathetic man, but a shy and insecure cute girl is lovely! You will have much more success with the opposite sex eheheheh! Oh, are those tears? Are you crying? You were never really a man, were you? I definitely did you a favor! Well, I really have to go now. Just remember that the magic I used prevents you from revealing your true identity, so avoid making a fool of yourself by muttering incomprehensible lines. Ah, by the way, our relationship is over, baby. You are not the right girl for me. Goodbye!"

Bad conscience

*First person POV inner voice*: "She's smiling! She's finally smiling! I've been waiting for this moment for months!" 

You know, five months ago that girl was my brother, and I was that girl... 

Although we were twins, we were and are very different: he was an athletic boy, I was a chubby girl. But five months ago I found a scroll with a one-shot spell at a flea market. A spell to swap bodies between blood relatives. I thought about it for a couple of days, but in the end I did: I used the spell on my brother, without telling anyone, pretending to be as shocked as he was. I know I did a horrible thing, but try to understand me... I always hated being a girl, being chubby and shortsighted, being pathetic at every sport. And I also had another reason. Both my brother and I, being eighteen, dreamed of going to college next year to study law, but our family can't afford it... Well, he, or rather "his body", got a scholarship for his merits in football! I couldn't bear to be "left behind" by my twin, while he could fulfill my dream of studying law! So yes, I stole his body and his life. And I lied to him and our parents about it. We decided to keep it a secret, "hoping to find a way to get back to normal soon". 

I was hoping my brother would adjust to his new life as my sister, and that we could both happily continue our new paths. But he, or rather "she", didn't. She fell into a terrible depression. She didn't leave home for 4 months (the latter part of our senior year and most of the summer), cried most nights, gained weight (becoming even chubbier), stopped talking to almost anyone. She didn't even leave her room for our 19th birthday, two months ago! She hated having to wear glasses even more than I did. She couldn't accept her out of shape, shorter and weaker body. She especially hated her period: she passed out the first time!

I felt terribly guilty. I was hoping that after a couple of difficult and weird weeks she would start moving on, but she didn't. Then finally a month ago she started going out of the house again, every now and then, wearing men's clothes. It was already a big step! She started seeing a couple of our best friends again. She started to live again, little by little. 

Looking at her around other people it is clear that she is a bit confused about boys and her feelings. Now I like girls, so I guess she likes boys. And for the past ten days, I've noticed that a friend of ours, Jake, is showing her particular attention. And I think she likes it. I don't think anything has happened between the two, I think my "sister" isn't even ready for a kiss yet, but I think texting Jake makes her happy.  She has even started wearing a bit of makeup for a couple of days! Someone wants to look pretty to impress a cute boy eheheh...

Seeing her smile while looking at the phone is a wonderful going-away present. That's right, I'm leaving for college tomorrow! I am so excited! Parties, girls, interesting lessons, it will be great! And seeing that my sister is on the road to recovery is a breath of fresh air for my conscience. I'm sure when I get home in a few months, she and Jake will be a couple. And my conscience will be even lighter. And then, in a few years, maybe when she has a couple of beloved children, I might as well finally tell her the truth, hoping for her forgiveness. But for now, a smile is more than enough.

No useful data yet

- Day 126. No useful data yet. I've been keeping a close watch on the bitch who stole my body for over 4 months now, but I haven't found anything useful. She's just enjoying my life, spending my money, dating a new girl every night. I haven't seen anything that looks magical or sci-fi during my surveillance. But how the hell did she swap our bodies?! From Monday I will be able to monitor her for much less time. Unfortunately, I have no money left, so I had to take a waitress job in a diner. Unbelievable... I'll have to spend half of my time getting unwanted pats from yokels looking at me in a creepy way and the other half spying on my body thief who lives happily and carefree. But one day she will take a misstep, and I will find out how to get my money, my home, my gender, my ethnicity, my body and my life back. I'll get it all back.

- Day 364. Tips at the diner have improved since the owner forced us to wear the new uniforms. The extra money partially pays for the humiliation of that little skirt. Oh yeah... No useful data. Yet.

No real damage

 

- "I don't think it's broken, thankfully. But you'll have to put ice on it." 

- "What did I tell you? No real damage." 

- "But you have to stop looking for trouble. You seem to like finding excuses to fight." 

- "Well, it's very satisfying actually. All my life I've been small and weak, and I couldn't gain muscle in any way. Now I finally have a body that makes me feel strong and confident." 

- "Too bad that body is mine! And I would appreciate it if you don't destroy it in the time it takes to figure out what happened to us and get back into our respective bodies." 

- "Destroy it? As I said before, "no real damage". And in fact, I'm improving it. In this month I have made it more athletic than before. In five or six months I will have an incredible body!" 

- "In five or six months I hope we will be ourselves again! What's wrong with you?!" 

- "Sorry, sorry, of course we will continue to look for a solution for our swap. But try to understand me... You know I've always been a tomboy, so for me it's a... unique experience. I can finally see the world with a man's eyes. A tall, strong man. Nobody looks at me as if I'm inferior, or adorable, or in need of help. And to be honest it's nice to have no more problems due to my skin color... " 

- "Yeah, there are really bad people out there... I noticed that this month."

 - "I'm sorry I had to pass this "problem" over to you... 

- "It's not your fault. But you can do something for me if you want to cheer me up." 

- "I could never say no to such a pretty girl." 

- "Ha ha ha. I'm serious." 

- "Ok, ok..." 

- "No more fights." 

- "Mmm..." 

- "Come on, you owe me! That's my body!" 

- "Ok, but on one condition." 

- "That is?" 

- "A date. This Saturday. You, me, a restaurant and a movie of your choice." 

- "I... but... what... You... Are you attracted to me?" 

- "Long before our swap. But now I feel pretty confident enough to ask you for a date. I know it's weird to ask my body for a date... but I'm attracted to who is inside it. You." 

- "I... I have to think about it... I would never have imagined..." 

- "I understand. But until that date or until we get back into our bodies, no "no fights" guarantee. Only "no real damage" guarantee." ;)

Uncomfortable bed, uncomfortable life

 

"Argh! Come on! There must be a more comfortable position! Even her bed is uncomfortable! Is there anything about my neighbor's life that doesn't get on my nerves?" 

Ever since my neighbor and I mysteriously swapped bodies, my life has been tremendously annoying. We are both 18 years old and in our last year of high school. But I was a popular football player, and she was a geek nerd. It is also for this reason that we have never become friends even though we have been neighbors for years. 

We are so different! Her bedroom is too childish, her clothes too feminine and out of fashion (I feel ridiculous wearing them!), her few friends are very boring, her mother is demanding in everything, her athletic skills are below zero... and even her bed is very uncomfortable! What the hell is that mattress?!

For the good of the kingdom

 

- "I don't understand. Why can't we let anyone know?" 

* voiceover *: "Because the kingdom cannot stand any more instability. The situation is already worrying after your father's death. We cannot tell the people that the sorcerer who killed their king has also cast a spell on the prince and the princess, before he is killed. We cannot let neighboring kingdoms know that the heir to the throne is in the body of a frail damsel. We would be vulnerable to their attacks. We must make them believe that the kingdom has stability despite the death of your father."  

- "But how long will we have to keep this secret, mother? How soon will I be able to return to my body?" 

- We don't know how long it will take. Some trusted soldiers are undercover searching for wizards who can help us. But it could take a long time. In the meantime, you and your sister will have to assume the roles of your bodies. This means your sister will be crowned king in three days. 

- "What?! But mother, the crown is MY destiny..." 

- "That's enough. I explained our predicament to you. We need a king in charge, and you can't be right now. Your younger sister will be the king until we find out how to reverse the spell. 

-"But..." 

- "You, in the meantime, will have to quickly learn how to behave like a princess. You will be required to maintain a feminine and graceful demeanor, appropriate to your role. In a month there will be the ball for your sister's (now yours...) 20th birthday, and there will be many princes from neighboring kingdoms. It will be necessary to marry one of them to strengthen our alliances, so you must be ready to strike them with your grace, "princess". 

- "Mother, you can't be serious..." 

- "I am very serious. And you will obey, for the good of the kingdom. Do I make myself clear?" 

- "..." 

- "It is polite to answer when your mother talks to you." 

- "For the good of the kingdom..." 

- "Exactly. Now it will be better to start your training. You will have to start getting used to move gracefully in uncomfortable women's formal dresses."