Being at the recieving end

For a short moment, it almost felt like you blacked out. Like one second you were in your home, and a blink later you were in a completely different, strange home, eating dinner with some blonde woman.

Except, when you actually tried to recall how you got here, strangely enough, you could.

You remembered everything.

How you stood in front of the bathroom door, but then had a sudden change of heart. How suddenly you found yourself looking down at Sierra's body with relief, instead of grievance, reassuring yourself how it was just a bad daydream.

You soon turned back to your friends and excused yourself, deciding to head to Sierra's home. Whatever happened to your own. body, strangely enough, you found yourself entirely unconcerned about, suddenly just happy to be back in Sierra's body.

Back?

It was an impulsive decision, you knew, but looking back now, you really couldn't tell why you didn't confront your body and just opted to go to Sierra's home. You felt strangely at ease in her body, and spent the rest of your evening just casually carrying on Sierra's routine, to your surprising enjoyment.

You went on a run, oddly feeling fat despite how much lighter Sierra was from you. You took a shower, only now realizing you didn't pause to inspect Sierra's body at all. You even You made dinner for Sierra's mom and yourself, and had a whole conversation with her about Sierra's cousins than went strangely smoothly. Right before this strange faux-blackout you were texting Hailey, who was complaining her brother was stuck in the bathroom for over 3 hours, joking that he must've fell asleep there.

It was then that you were suddenly brought back to your previous state of worry. Biting at Sierra's lip like she tended to do, you inspected the glowing gem on your ring finger, and gently rubbed it, and then it hit you.

It almost felt like someone implanted these memories into you, yet they all did feel like your own actions. It almost felt like ever since you left the house you've been acting on autopilot, and suddenly it was turned off.

You blinked a few times, suddenly made super aware of your new body. Your new mom didn't seem to notice your trepidations, simply happy focusing on her own food. She looked identical to Sierra, like an older version of your new self, only with a broader nose and platinum-blonde hair instead of your golden-blonde.

It was just you and her at the table in the small apartment. Unlike Hailey or Dana, Sierra didn't live in the suburbs, rather in some old midrise on the edge of the school district. But what surprised you wasn't that the place was small, rather that it wasn't cramped. There were only three chairs, two bedrooms, and a modest kitchen. Sierra must've lived alone with her mother. Was she a single mom? Why did none of this occour to you in the last 4 hours you spent as her?

You rubbed your forehead, overwhelmed by Sierra's routine and your excessive overthinking. Somehow, looking back at it, it was actually sorta fun. Suddenly you felt much calmer again, realizing that doing all of that helped you feel much more grounded. You didn't even remember what bothered you a moment ago.

You finished your meal and excused yourself, giving Sierra's unaware mother a kiss on the cheek and washing your dish. You greeted her goodnight, feeling strangely and somewhat excitedly aware of your new body as you headed to your new bedroom.

You let out a sigh, Sierra's soft voice sounding so foreign to your ears, despite these last few hours. You crossed your legs, looking down. First at your chest, but you stowed that thought away for the moment as your gaze instead shifted to your hands.

The ring... Last you looked at it, before that gasp, you could swear it was glowing or at least shimmering. But now it seemed... Dull.

The ring... The medallion! How could you how forgotten about it? Your body wasn't where you left it when you went to look for it. Someone was in it! How could you have just walked away into Sierra's routine?

Wait, your sister did say something about her brother... Your body being stuck in the bathroom for like three hours. Could you have actually been in the bathroom when you used the medallion? You couldn't even remember now...

You rubbed your forehead again. Why did she have to be such an overthinker?

Just to be sure, you tried calling your number, but it went to voicemail, and you fell on Sierra's bed with a sigh. It still troubled you. If your body was immobile... Would they think you're dead? Or in a coma? And if not... Well, who was piloting it?