Learning about your life as DJ

"Well, as far as the world is concerned, you're Darrell Jackson Crews. Your old body, Steven Meadows, was barely functioning when we got you in and once the cuts were made, your body ceased all function. The body can't live without the mind..."

The younger doctor's ramblings were stopped by his older colleague with a short glance before he turned back to you. "It was a very big risk, one without serious risks, but the outcome was a resounding success. Moving forward, the only indication that this procedure took place is a small scar right by your left ear and, in time, that will heal just as quickly." He placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "We had two lives potentially lost and we managed to save one of them. It's a hard thing to swallow, losing who you were...but you're still here. The former Darrell can't say that..."

You supposed that was true and after taking a few moments more to understand the terms of the non-disclosure agreement, meaning you're never telling a soul about any of this ever again (and who would believe you anyways? you supposed to general agreement), the two doctors left the room saying they would check on you later.

With them gone, you looked at your hands, feeling the unusual distortion of knowing you had been white but now looking at the dark brown skin of Darrell Crews, one of your former students who had gone to the City College after graduating 2 years ago, it was starting to sink in slowly. "This is really happening..."

"Yes..." Pam whispered, still holding your other hand but then she did her characteristic pat before she took a seat next to you. "The driver made it, he had pulled a double shift and wasn't paying attention and lost control. The trucking company immediately coughed up several million to cover everything. After taking care of things around the house, I'll put some aside for you as well. You'll need some seed money moving forward."

"Pam..."

She smiled and shushed you. "You're Darrell now, remember? How much do you remember about the family?"

You thought about it for a bit. "I remember he had a young mother, Monica. She had them when she was barely 14 and **** to drop out, never married..."

"She's a single mom, working as a front desk manager at the Best Western downtown. I looked into them a bit while you were out." Pam shifted a bit. "Besides his mom, he has two younger sisters, Shawna and Yasmine. They live in a three bedroom house off J-Street in a lower income level area." She pulled out her phone and showed you the pictures she had taken. Pam was very meticulous, that was certain. "Not gang-violent but low income for sure, heavily black neighborhood."

You nodded and Pam continued. "We met with the doctors, she knows about the transplant. She's so very lovely, Steve...she struggled to apologize for this to happen but I just told her that we needed to save Darrell and you were his teacher, you took care of him in his Senior year, that's just the person you are." She scrolled to a picture of her.

"She's very dependent on Darrell, especially with the two younger sisters, and that's why he chose to play ball and go to school here locally, remember?"

You nodded and then looked at Pam. "Do you think I can do this?"

She smiled and leaned forward. "You don't really have a choice now, do you?"