The Truth

by Jennifer White

 

I really should have been happy you know. I had a decent job that paid pretty well, I had lots of friends, and my girlfriend Audrey had moved in with me. We weren't engaged yet, but it was just a matter of time. I seemed to have everything a man could ever want, other than being rich or famous I guess.

But ever since I had been little, I always had these *feelings*, these thoughts and these dreams. When she was out shopping for groceries, I'd look at her clothes hanging in the closet, feel them with my hands, and have such a desire to wear them.

If she was gone all day or something, I sometimes wore her panties and one of her bras, which I'd stuff to make it look like I had boobs. Unfortunately, I was a big tall guy, and she was petite. That meant I couldn't pull her skirts up, because my waist was too wide. Or if I put on one of her little tops, I'd stretch it out (if not ripping it), and it wouldn't even come down to my belly button.

So I had all these girly clothes in my apartment now, but I was frustrated because I could never wear them. I longed to be able to walk around my place, wearing one of Audrey's tight black skirts, and a skimpy top. I wished that *I* had boobs, so I could fill out the bra, without having to stuff it. I wished I was a girl. And I had, ever since I was little.

Now don't get me wrong: I was a guy. I did guy things. I played football. I stayed out drinking, with my buddies. I got told by Audrey (and past girlfriends) that I was "a typical guy", because I didn't listen to them, I couldn't express my feelings, and all of that stuff. Yet, somehow, it felt so good to think of myself as a girl. I wanted to be a woman some day, but I knew it was impossible. But the thoughts were never far from my head.

 

Imagine my surprise one day, when I had a chance to have a wish granted to me. For real! Now here's what happened. Audrey was all into antiques and stuff, and she was always doing something to redecorate my place, now that she lived there.

We had vases full of fresh cut flowers now, whereas there were none before she moved it. She put paintings on my wall, bought a new coffee table, end tables, and decorated them with knickknacks. She bought a couple of old pieces of furniture too, for our bedroom and the living room. So when she came home one day with an old tarnished metal container, I wasn't too surprised.

"Richard, I want you to do me a favor" she said.

"Sure" I replied. "What is it?"

"I have some polish here. I'd like you to clean up this piece, so I can put it out on display. I'm going to be out all day with the girls, preparing for Eleanor's baby shower, so unless you've got plans, do you think you could do that for me?"

"Sure, no problem" I said.

She kissed me, and promised me that she would make it up to me when she got back home.

"I think we can arrange for payment, in the bedroom tonight" she said, making a thrill of anticipation and excitement run through me. She often used the technique of letting me know far in advance that I was going to get lucky that night. Now all day, I'd be thinking about her, thinking about the private place between her legs, and how it would feel wrapped around me in bed.

 

Audrey left, and I got to work on my project. I put some old newspapers across the table, put the container on it, along with the polish. I didn't know if you'd call it an 'urn' or what. Some old container they didn't use these days. It was narrow at the bottom, got wider in the middle, then tapered down narrow at the top. A stopper with cork and a fancy handle plugged the hole. I took that out, put some polish on a cloth, and started to clean the lamp.

As I rubbed it and rubbed it, a strange thing happened. At first, I thought it was my imagination. I thought that some dust or something was coming out from inside the container. But then it started to look like smoke. Was there something on fire inside?

I put it down, and stepped back. I was seeing things. The polish fumes must be getting to me. I opened the window, then came back to the table.

But now, there was a column of smoke coming out of the container! It started to change from a shapeless mass, to one that looked like the outline of a person's form. A woman to be more exact.

As time went on, the details got more and more clear. Her face was so pretty, that it was mesmerizing. Her eyes were green, and shaped like almonds. I stared into her eyes, and she smiled at me.

She seemed to hover above me, then alit on the ground.

"I'm dreaming" I said.

"Go ahead, pinch yourself" she said.

"Ow!!!" I said, as I felt the pain.

"You cannot feel pain in a dream, so this cannot be a dream" she said. Her voice had an accent, making her sound even more exotic and exciting. She wore a red silk dress, and she was a total knockout. Although I was completely in love with Audrey, and never considered cheating on her, even for a moment I felt myself get very aroused by this woman I was seeing.

"What are you?" I said.

"In your culture, most would call me a 'genie'. You have freed me from my prison, and now I owe you a great debt. How may I show my gratitude?"

"In books, genies grant three wishes. Is that what you're offering me?"

"Your books are not well informed. I may grant you a wish, but then my powers are diminished for a time. Only a foolish genie would grant *three* wishes. But I was trapped for a thousand ages, and now I am free! You may have any wish. Any! Just tell me, and it will be so!"

 

I thought of all the things I could do. I could ask to win the lottery, and be rich. I could ask to become famous. I could ask to be elected president. I could wish for long life. I could wish for anything. But when it came to wishes, there was one that preoccupied my mind. My wish to be a woman.

If this was real (and it surely seemed to be!), I could ask to be turned into a woman. The genie would grant my wish, and then I would have a perfect life. Audrey and I would love each other, but now with me as a woman. Everything good in my life would be the same, but I'd be female. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I knew it was what I wanted.

But I had read that genies also could trick you. I didn't want to just wish to become a woman, she might turn me into *anyone*. I wanted to still be me, but a female version of me.

"Genie, I have made up my mind. Here is my wish. I wish that I had the same life I do now, but that I was a beautiful woman."

"You mean you want to become a woman, but still live here, still have your same job, but everyone you know has always known you as a woman?"

"Exactly!" I said.

She shook her head.

"Before I grant you this wish, I must warn you. Of all the wishes a man could possibly make, this is the one they will regret most. I implore you sir, pick some other wish. Pick power, money, anything. But not this."

She was trying to trick me out of making this my wish! If that was true, then it must be a very good wish indeed.

"No" I said. "I have told you my wish. Make it so."

"I tried to warn you" she said. "Do not become angry at me, if this does not turn out exactly as you anticipated."

"Just do it" I said, impatiently. I couldn't wait to become a woman, so I could try on Audrey's clothes. "Oh, and since I'd be a woman, all my clothes and things would change too, right?"

"Yes" she said. "Now hold still. Here goes."

I didn't feel anything, but she said: "There. All done. Now you are Jessica."

I turned to look in the mirror. At the moment I first moved, I realized that *everything* about me was different. They way I moved. My posture. The way my boobs jiggled as I walked. The way my hips were wider. The way I was graceful, and far more flexible than before. And of course, the lack of anything sticking out between my legs.

But my whole apartment looked different to me now. Little things that Audrey had done suddenly seemed so noticeable. And things I had done, which had been bugging her (like the worn out rug I had refused to get rid of, but she wanted to replace), they now bugged me! I looked at that rug, and wanted to get rid of it.

I looked at myself in the mirror for the first time, and I was very pleased. While I wouldn't say I was model material, I was very beautiful. Maybe I could have stood to lose a few pounds, but I was in very good shape. I had a very pretty face, long auburn hair flowing down past my shoulders, deep blue eyes, and full pouty lips.

My breasts were pleasing in size to me. Not too small, not too large. I guessed I was a C cup, but it was hard to say, because I was shorter now than I used to be...and I was wearing high heeled shoes! I had on a comfortable tan skirt, and a brown top with a light brown embroidered pattern on the front.

My nails were nicely painted, my legs were shaved, I had on some makeup, but not too much. I wore a couple of rings, had diamond studs in my ears, and I wore a gold necklace with a ruby that was hanging down just above my exposed cleavage.

"This is so wonderful!" I said out loud, as my face lit up in a smile. "Thank you so much!"

"You may not thank me at all" said the genie.

"I can't wait until Audrey comes home, so she can see what happened to me!"

"She already knows" said the genie. "Remember, you wished that everyone would have memories of you always having been a girl. And that includes you too you know, since you are part of 'everyone', and you didn't exclude yourself. I did exactly what you asked, even though I warned you against it."

I had memories of me always being female? I looked inside, and they were there! I remembered my mother teaching me how to put on makeup, when I was just a little girl. I remembered playing with the other girls, and teasing the boys. I could remember my first period. It was all there, in my head. I remembered my entire parallel life, as a girl.

Now I thought this was a good thing! I wouldn't have to learn how to put on makeup, I knew how, as if I had been doing it for years. I didn't have to learn how to walk in high heel shoes; I already knew that too. This was a great advantage, and I didn't understand why the genie made it sound like a bad thing.

I touched myself between my legs. I wanted to much to feel down there, and explore. That brought back lots of memories, like the first time I had sex. Roger had been so kind and sweet, and was kind of drunk. I remembered what it felt like to have him up inside me, and how...

"Aahh!!!" I said.

"What's the matter, dear?" she replied.

"I...I remember having sex with a man!"

"Yes, you did. Just as your former male self had sex in his life, so did your current self, the female version of you."

"But I *liked* it!" I said. "I like men! This is terrible!"

"Did you think you could become a woman, with a woman's body, a woman's brain, a woman's hormones, and think that your thought patterns would be exactly the same as when you were a man?"

"I never thought of that..." I said.

"You should have. Again, I warned you, but you refused to listen."

"Change me back! Please!" I said.

"First of all, I only agreed to one wish. Secondly, I told you that after granting a wish, I get tired, and my power is diminished for a time. Even if I had agreed to more wishes, I still couldn't turn you back."

"Does Audrey still love me?" I asked.

"Do you really have to ask that, Jessica? You know Audrey better than anyone. Tell me: does she go for women? Or does she feel attracted to men?"

"Men" I said, still not used to my female voice.

"You are a woman. To her, you have always been a woman. How could she possibly be in love with you?"

"But we live together!"

"Yes, as girlfriends. In your male life, you became friends with her first, and *then* loves. In your female life, you became friends, but since neither of you is a lesbian, you can't be lovers. Ever."

I started to cry. I couldn't control myself.

"Why am I crying?" I said. "I can't stop it!!!"

"You are a woman now. You are a lot more emotional. Remember, your brain is a *female* brain now. And your hormones are *female* hormones. You think like a woman, and you feel like a woman, because you *are* a woman, just as you wished."

I didn't know what felt worse: knowing that things had turned out this terrible, or knowing that *I* had wished this upon myself, getting exactly what I had asked for.

"Please come back, when your powers are restored" I said. "Grant me another wish, and I will do any service to *you*."

"We will see" she said.

The genie gave me a wink, and disappeared into thin air. I had to go to the bathroom to wash my face, after all the tears. And then of course, I had to fix my makeup. *My* makeup! I had makeup! This was exciting.

I went to my bedroom, and there were some changes. Instead of the king sized bed that Audrey and I shared, there were two double beds, one on each side. I could remember this, as if it had always been this way.

I went into the closet, and looked at all of *my* clothes. Skirts. Dresses. Blouses. I owned bras (I remembered now, I was a 38C). I owned panties. Me! I was a woman. My initial disappointment and shock went away a bit, as I looked through all of the feminine things I had always dreamed of having.

I mean like to look at a purse, to know it was *mine*, and to know that I would be carrying it with me everywhere I went was wonderful! To look my collection of shoes, and to know that I would be wearing heels every day if I wanted to, in public no less, was even more exciting.

My inspection of my things was interrupted, when I heard a key in the door. Audrey was home! I went out to greet her.

"Jessica" she said, "you look a mess. Is something wrong?"

"I was working on your urn" I said, "and my eyes got irritated by the polish. I think I got some in my eye. I'm sorry I didn't get much of it cleaned for you."

"Oh your poor thing!" she said.

I felt bad lying to her, but what was I going to tell her, that a genie turned me into a woman, and that she didn't remember it, but I used to be a man? I was the only person on earth (plus the genie of course) who knew my true past.

"Tell me all about Eleanor's baby shower!" I said. "I want to know every single detail!"

She started going over who attended, who didn't, the games they played. All the gossip, all the wonderful gifts Eleanor got, and more. I found myself riveted by this, truly interested in knowing every detail.

"When is she due?" I asked.

"In five weeks" replied Audrey.

"Do they know if it's a boy or a girl yet?" I asked, again, strangely interested to know.

"It's a girl" she said.

"Aw, that's so sweet!" I replied.

Now as a man, babies were these inconvenient things that took your friends away from you, made your buddies have to go home early, or made them show up to work tired from being up all night to take care of them. Really, I didn't care much for babies.

But now, I was a woman in her late twenties, and they were such an interesting topic of conversation. I felt a chill go through me, as I realized it: I wanted to have a baby one day. I wanted to be a mother. I wanted to give birth. Me!

Of course, those are perfectly normal feelings for a woman, which I was now. But that was quite an adjustment in thinking for me. It's a long way from want to wear panties, to wanting to give birth!

But the other reason that it was so earthshaking to have this realization, is that it drove home a point from earlier: in order to have a baby, I needed a man. I felt an inner *need* to have a man. I wanted to have sex, I wanted to let him penetrate me, as I laid down for him, spread my legs, and...

Wait! Stop that! I wasn't about to let myself have a female sex fantasy in my mind. That was too much. How could I have let it come to this? I started to cry again.

"What's the matter?" said Audrey.

"I'm just so happy for her" I replied. It was true. I did feel very happy for her, that she was going to have a baby girl. Again, I felt bad about lying to Audrey, but I couldn't tell her the truth!

* * *

 

"I want to go out tonight" said Audrey, as we were cleaning up the dishes after dinner that night.

"Cool" I said, excited about the thought of getting do dress up in something fancy, and go out in public as a woman for the first time. "Where to?"

"I was thinking about Nitro. It's supposed to be the hottest dance club in town."

"And it also has a real reputation as a pickup bar" I countered.

"You know how horny I get right before my period" she said, giving me a wink.

Now this set off another round of inner conflict for me. I knew from what a past girlfriend had told me, that when women lived together, for some unknown reason, their periods synched up. So if Audrey was about to start hers, then I was about to start *mine*. And maybe that was why *I* was feeling so horny today myself.

"Me too" I said, kicking myself for blurting it out. It was okay really, but I just couldn't get over the fact that I had just told Audrey that I wanted a man! I was in love with *her*, and I was supposed to have made love to her that night. I thought about it, and wondered if I could still do that, now that we were both women.

But it was strange: if we were to do each other, then we'd be too women in bed. That just didn't excite me. Her body was pretty, beautiful, and all the things it was before I was transformed. But it didn't turn me on anymore. She was a woman, just like me, and that wasn't what I wanted.

I felt an inner panic again that I wasn't turned on by women. How could I admit that I wasn't normal? But it was funny: now that I was a woman myself, preferring men *was* normal. I just couldn't think of myself that way.

"I told Roger that you would be there tonight" said Audrey. "If he shows up, maybe you'll get laid."

The man I could remember sleeping with. He would be there tonight. My heart rate quickened, and I felt a twinge between my legs that I had never known before. A feeling of *wanting* him to be up inside me. For the first time in my life, I felt myself getting wet. I don't know why, but I licked my lips.

"He *is* yummy, isn't he?" said Audrey.

"And just who are you after Miss 'I do not have the strength to keep my panties on tonight'?"

"Oh, there's a guy. I met him a few weeks ago. Remember, I told you about him?"

My memories of my parallel female life were all there in my mind. It was getting easier and easier to access them. I didn't think at the time about that implication, but as me female past became more what I thought about, that meant my male past would start to diminish, and fade. I might wind up not being able to remember back when I was a guy. These memories were a double edged sword.

But in those memories, she *had* told me about a cute guy she wanted to date, named Chase. She was really sweet on him, and had told me the scoop on him, with all the details.

"Do you think he'll show up?" I asked.

"I told Roger to make sure and drag him along. I told Roger if he wanted to get lucky, then he had better make sure Chase showed up."

"You devil!" I said. "Using my man so you could get poor unsuspecting Chase into the sack!"

We giggled and laughed. I wanted to go get dressed up, and make myself look pretty. But it wasn't just my longtime need to dress like a girl acting on me now: I also had hormones effecting my brain. Female hormones, making me want it. Even though I was still kind of revolted at the thought, I just went with the flow of things. It was so easy to forget my past, and slip into my new life. Why fight it anymore?

* * *

 

I stood before the mirror, next to Audrey, as we primped and preened. I was checking out my boobs, hoping my pushup bra made them look good enough for Roger to get excited. I was in a little black dress, which I just loved to wear when I went dancing. I pictured myself, moving out on the dance floor, working it.

We only had the one bathroom, so while she had done some things she preferred to do in private, I looked through her magazine on home decorating. Now, it was interesting to me. I even noticed one picture with an urn, similar to the one she had bought. I guess that was where she got the idea from.

Now Audrey was touching up her makeup, and I was getting a few stray hairs into place. We looked very pretty, the both of us. It was later than we had planned on, so now the guys would be waiting for us. Oh well, make them sweat it out.

I grabbed my purse (which felt *so* good to do!), and followed her out the door. Now I was on the city sidewalk, outside as a woman for the first time. And there were a flood of new feelings.

Before, as a man, in that same situation, my attention would have been drawn to the cab we were hoping to hail, or the pretty chick walking up the block. But now, here in the city, as night was falling, it felt totally different. I felt vulnerable. I felt like behind every tree, danger could be lurking. I eyed all the men out on the street, screening them mentally for threats. You don't want to be paranoid, but a girl has to be careful, at night, downtown in the city.

I felt the wind under my skirt. I felt what was perhaps an overblown sense of fear, because I wasn't used to people seeing me as a woman. I wasn't used to standing on the street in heels and a dress. It was frightening, it was exciting, and I had too many emotions, all at once, to be able to make much sense of it.

As we rode in the cab over to Nitro, I was kicking myself. I was about to go to a nightclub, to meet a guy, who was going to take me home, so he could get laid by me. How could I have let this happen to me! How could I have let my hormones make me do this, which I was going to deeply regret! And to make matters worse, I was going to help Audrey get laid herself. It should have been me, not this guy Chase. And I was helping her get him. I really wanted to kick myself now.

"I need a drink" I said.

"Me too" she replied.

 

We got to Nitro, and there was a long line up front. As an average looking guy, I would have been stuck waiting for hours to get in. But Audrey and I were chicks, and we were dressed up hot. We walked to the VIP entrance, and they pretty much just let us in, without even asking for a cover charge!

Nightclubs love having hot babes there, because that makes the place very desirable to be. I had seen sexy women going in right away, while I had stood in line. Now *I* was the woman, jumping the line. That was really wild.

Inside, I felt as if everybody in the place was staring at me, and staring at my boobs. I guess they probably were, the way I had then hanging out. Why had I chose something this sexy to wear? I felt terrible again. It was like a roller coaster with my emotions. One moment, I was oh so horny that I'd do Roger in front of the whole crowd; the next I was so embarrassed to be seen like this that I wanted to run away and hide.

 

There they were. Roger and Chase. Audrey gave them a little wave, and they smiled. They came over, and he kissed me. I kind of melted inside, savoring the wonderful sensation, while at the same time, being filled with revulsion.

"How are you Jessica?" he asked.

"I need a drink" I said in reply. I *really* needed one.

"Margaritas or mai tais?" he asked.

My favorite drink was straight up scotch, but I guess that would have been a funny drink for a girl to order.

"I'll go for the mai tai" I said.

Roger and Chase went to the bar to get our drinks, while we sat at the table.

"What did I tell you!" gushed Audrey. "Is he hot or what?"

"Yeah" I said, "but don't rush things between you two. I know you. You don't move fast. If you bed him tonight, you'll be kicking yourself tomorrow. Go slow."

"You're right" she said, giving my hand a thankful squeeze. I was really trying to keep her for myself. I couldn't stand to see her with another man.

 

The guys came back with our drinks, and I put mine away pretty fast. I sent him over to get me another one (I guess that was one advantage of being the woman: you get your drinks for free). Half way through that one, the alcohol really hit me. I mean, as a guy, I cold down a ton of drinks, and only get a little tipsy. But one and a half as a woman, with a body that was so much smaller, I could really feel it.

My inhibitions were down. I wanted to dance. And dance I did. I was crazy out on the dance floor, and I had to keep pulling Roger by the hand, to keep him with me. He wanted to sit down.

"Just one more song!" I yelled at him, since it was so loud in there.

"That's what you said three songs ago."

"Just this last one, please?" I asked.

I couldn't explain it, but dancing as a guy was a tedious chore, something you had to do to make your woman happy. But as a woman, especially a drunk one with lowered inhibitions, dancing became a form of freedom, expression, and a way to get comfortable physical closeness with Roger. I could see the pout on his face. I had been there before, when I had been a man. I caved in, and took him back to our table, where Audrey and Chase were locked in deep conversation, holding hands.

"I have to go use the little girl's room" I said, giving a hiccup from the drink, as I drained my glass.

"Me too. We'll be right back" said Audrey.

We waited in line for the bathroom, waited to get through the door, then waited for stalls to open up. And while we waited, we talked.

"What do you think?" she said.

"You two were really talking out there! The way you were locked on each other's eyes, like there was nobody in the room but the two of you."

"He's so romantic" she said. "I want him so much!"

"Audrey, remember what we talked about. Slow down girl! There's no need to rush into it. If you want it to work with him, you'll take my advice, and back off a bit. Cool your jets, so you don't burn out."

"You're right" she said, giving me a sisterly hug.

We got our stalls finally, and I was going to sit down to pee as a girl for the first time. I pulled up my dress, pulled down my panties, and I did it. This was the first time I had really examined myself between my legs. My memories were full of this being my normal self, but now I wasn't just remembering it, I was *experiencing* it.

For some reason, I looked at the toilet paper after I wiped myself off between my legs. There were a couple of small blotches of dark red color. From my memories, I knew what that meant.

"Audrey" I said, as she sat in the next stall, "I'm spotting."

"Oh dear" she said. "There goes having Roger tonight."

"I know" I said, as I searched my purse for a pad or a tampon. But there were none.

"Um, Audrey, I don't have any pads" I said.

"Here" she replied, handing me one under the wall of the stall. "I can't believe you don't have one in your purse."

"I forgot. Too excited about tonight I guess."

I put the pad into my panties, and pulled them up. I was starting my first period.

 

Back at the table, Audrey was kind enough to inform the two guys that I was having "female problems", and that we needed to leave.

"Thanks" she said, when we got into the taxi to ride home.

"For what?" I replied.

"Well, for one thing, you reminded me to slow down. You're like my older sister, giving me good advice. And then, you also gave me an excuse so we could go, without me hurting any feelings. Your period really bailed me out Jessica."

"Any time" I said.

 

We got back home, and I was ready for bed. As my former self, I'd have thrown my clothes on the dresser, pulled on a T-shirt, and gone to bed. But now, I had work to do.

Put away my dress on a hanger, so it didn't get wrinkly. Clean off my shoes, and put them back in the box on the shelf, so they'd stay nice. Take off my makeup. Get out of the uncomfortable pushup bra, and into my nightie. Brush my teeth, put in a tampon in case I started to flow more heavily, take off my jewelry, and *then* get into bed.

"Good night Jessica" she said to me across the dark room, as we laid down to sleep.

"Good night Audrey" I said, longing to be laying by her side. But I was a woman now, and being with her in that way didn't excite either of us.

I was like her now, and while we were closer than I could ever imagine being with a woman, I had lost her, as a lover.

 

I tossed and turned all night. I couldn't get comfortable. Normally, I slept on my chest. But with boobs, that was impossible. I kept waking up with a start, feeling disoriented, not used to being in this alien body. Finally, I settled down, got some sleep, and had strange feminine dreams for the first time in my life.

* * *

 

I could feel the bright light pulling me back to consciousness. I wanted to remain in my blissful sleep, but I was hearing the noise from the street now. I wanted to cry, because I was so upset at how I had ruined my world with my terrible wish. For all the good things that being Jessica gave me, it was crushing to lose Audrey. She was the love of my life, and she was more important to me than anything, I came to realize.

I got ready to sit up. I'd tell her the truth about what had happened, and hope for the best. She might call me crazy, but I couldn't lie to her anymore.

 

I sat up, and looked around. Why was I on the couch? I immediately noticed: I wasn't Jessica anymore. I was me! I was myself again, a man. I jumped up, ran around the apartment. Everything was just as it had been before. It had all been a dream. The urn was still there, untouched, ready to be polished.

I hadn't started to clean it yet in fact; I had fallen asleep on the couch, watching the ball game. A half-empty beer bottle was leaving a ring of moisture on the table. I picked it up, and wiped it off. That was when I realized two things.

 

Number one: I didn't want to *be* a woman. I had been in love with the thought of being one, but in fact I was really in love with all the trappings of femininity, not femininity itself. Bras turned me on, and so did the thought of wearing them, but I didn't really want to have boobs. Dresses and shoes were exciting and sexy to wear, but not to live in.

I did not want to be a woman. I wanted to be me, and maybe sometimes I'd dress up in something pretty, as a way to get sexual arousal. I would tell Audrey about my fantasy one day, so she could join me. We could use it as a way to be closer together, instead of as a secret which could drive us apart. I felt terrible for not having shared this important part of myself with her. It was a lie of omission. I would never lie to her again.

 

Number two: while it would seem that it had all been a dream, I wasn't so sure. I would never have thought to wipe off the table, before going through my experience being female. I still saw the rug as old, and in need of being replaced. I still noticed all the little things she had done, and how wonderful things looked, thanks to her.

If it had all been a dream, then it was a dream which had rearranged my mind, allowing me to see things more from Audrey's point of view. I loved her even more now, and I would do anything to keep her.

 

Just then, I heard the turn of the key in the door. I rushed over to greet her, gave her a big hug and a kiss.

"I've been thinking about you all day" I said, telling her the truth.

"You didn't do what I asked you to, with the urn" she said.

Before, I would have taken that as nagging. But now, I understood her disappointment that she had given me just one thing to do, and I couldn't do that for her. By not doing it, it was as if I was saying I didn't care about her.

"Audrey, this is an antique. I was looking through your decorating magazine. There's a picture of an urn, kind of like this one. But I noticed that they didn't polish it. They kept it looking old. I think if it was shiny, that would ruin the charm."

I turned to the page I remembered reading when I had been Jessica, and sure enough, there it was. How could I have known that? Had it been a dream, or not?

"You're right dear" she said, kissing me. "I am so impressed that you noticed. If it was all shiny, it wouldn't look old anymore. Then it wouldn't fit our decor. You're so smart."

She gave me a hug. I felt more in love with her than I had ever been in my life.

"Tell me all about Eleanor's baby shower!" I said. "I want to know every single detail!"

She started going over who attended, who didn't, the games they played. All the gossip, all the wonderful gifts Eleanor got, and more. I found myself riveted by this, truly interested in knowing every detail.

 

The End

  

  

  

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