Settling into my stolen life (Patreon)

The sour tang of the anti-rejection smoothie filled Nicole's senses, a bitter reminder of the price she had to pay to finally convince her neighbor, Justin, to date her. She cringed, the familiar pucker of her lips threatening to bring tears to her eyes. She knew the taste well: a caustic blend of tangy citruses, earthy roots, and the inherent bitterness of the essential medication, all working in unison to keep her mind sane. She risked hallucinating without the medication. 

Swallowing the medication directly was no easier. The pills were bulky, chalky, and when they caught in her throat, they threatened to choke her. She would gag, her eyes watering, and it was always a struggle. Hence the smoothie. It was a clever solution, an unpleasant compromise that she had to bear with every week. The timing was always unpredictable; she had to down it whenever her heart began its painful, thudding rhythm. A rhythm that reminded her of a painful past, a painful transition, and a current reality that she was still getting used to.

She had never gone for too long without her meds, but she knew that the conclusion would be having to return to her old body. There was no way she could go back to her old body, not after tricking Elena into signing the consent forms to give up her body for good. Her best friend had thought that the swap was going to be temporary, but that couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Nicole was willing to do anything to secure her new life, and their history together didn’t matter.

Nicole was born in the wrong body. She had battled herself, her identity, and the society that refused to accept her for who she was as a transgender woman. Then came the life-altering procedure, a controversial body swap clinic that swapped bodies between willing participants. It was a procedure that offered her a chance to live Elena’s life, a chance to live as the woman she always knew herself to be. And once Elena let her inside her body, Nicole did everything in her power to make sure the right people were paid. She was a trust fund baby who had plenty of cash to burn, and her hot body was something that she was willing to pay handsomely for. Elena would remain trapped in Nicole’s old body, and a quick botched procedure had left her incapacitated in a long-term care facility for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, Nicole would live the rest of her life without anybody noticing. Nobody would complain either. Nicole was a better version of Elena. She was more outgoing and social than the original Elena.

Nicole relaxed into the plush chair, closing her eyes as she felt the warmth of relief. It was always like this. The initial throb of her heart, the urgent need for the smoothie, the bitter taste, and then the comforting lull that followed. It was a routine she was learning to live with. The sound of the bathroom door opening roused her. She opened her eyes and found Justin emerging, a towel around his waist, his hair wet from the shower. 

His eyes found hers, a soft smile curling his lips. He crossed the room to her, bent down and pressed his lips to hers. It was a sweet, tender kiss that made her heart flutter. When they pulled apart, he touched her cheek. "Thanks for making breakfast," he whispered, his eyes filled with understanding. “I’ll see you tonight?”

Nicole nodded, her lips stretching into a weary smile. "I’ll see you tonight with the food. You promised, right?”

Justin brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, his thumb grazing her cheek. "I promised. Same place, same order. Talk to you later.”

And in his words, Nicole found solace. She realized that while the smoothies were an inconvenience, they were a small price to pay for the freedom she now had. A small price for the acceptance and love she found in Justin. She leaned into his touch, a sigh escaping her when he pulled away to go get dressed. The sour taste of the smoothie was a minor inconvenience, but as she looked into Justin's eyes, she knew it was all worth it.