What being a skinwalker entails

I woke up shaken gently by someone, and when I opened my eyes, I could blurrily discern Claire standing next to me.

"G-good morning." I groggily muttered as I tried to rise up, wiping my eyes.

"M-morning, Ed." She said, breathing slowly.

I immediately noticed something was wrong as my vision cleared and my consciousness fully returned. Claire was panting, and her skin was sickly pale. Her pupils were dilated too. It was clear she was suffering from withdrawal.

I instantly got up, getting anxious. "Claire, we need to find you a skin now!"

I couldn't stand seeing her go through this. I remembered well how bad I felt the day I became a skinwalker, and she was experiencing the same awful sensations...

"I'm... I'm fine, Ed..." She unconvincingly replied. "B-besides... Dahlia is coming. She sent me a text, she'll be here soon to help."

I sighed. "You're not fine, Claire, you don't have to lie. I've been through that too, I know how it feels. But let me get dressed and I'll prepare breakfast before Dahlia arrives."

She nodded slowly and left the room. I removed my gown and quickly put on a pair of underwear, denim shorts, a white shirt with floral patterns, and a pair of tennis shoes I found at the bottom of the suitcase. I was glad Ashley thought to pack practical clothes for me.

I need to thank her when I'm back.

I approached the mirror, brushing my hair and tying it up into a low ponytail, and then smiled softly at my cute reflection. The discussion with Mother yesterday helped me feel better about this situation, more comfortable in this skin I was borrowing for the next few years at least. Elise wasn't gone, she was living through me, as Mother said, and I'd make sure her life would stay in order and be perfect for when we'd inevitably... go our separate ways.

I didn't feel the need to put any makeup, I was already cute enough without any, so I just went to the kitchen, where Claire was, making herself a coffee.

"Do you prefer coffee still, Ed?" She hesitantly asked.

I smiled, grabbing a cup. "Yeah. Elise likes it more sweet than me, though, so I'll add a bit of sugar."

"I-I see..." She said, looking at her coffee with a pensive expression.

As I was pouring myself some coffee, I saw Claire appear almost disappointed while drinking her own, steaming cup. I could guess why.

"Unfortunately, there's no real way to shake off the cold apart from wearing a skin, from what I know. Dahlia and I, we'll find you someone to wear quickly, don't worry." I said, holding her hand.

"Thanks, Ed." She simply replied, sitting at the table while I was busy making breakfast.

I opted for some eggs and toast, something simple and quick. I didn't know when Dahlia would arrive, I didn't want to waste too much time.

While cooking, I received a call on Elise's phone, from her oldest sister, Esther. She and Elise were really close, she used to be Elise's role model when she was still a kid.

"Good morning, Ettie." I said in a joyful tone.

"Hey Liz, how are you?" She asked.

"Quite good, and you? Are you already back?"

Esther was married to a gentle Canadian man, Yann, and the two of them often went to Winnipeg to see Yann's family and friends. She worked remotely most of the time, since she was a programmer, and so was Yann, so they could afford spending months there without much worries.

"Not yet, I return next week. When I'm back, do
you mind if I come visit? I'm really missing my cute little sis~" She said, her tone teasing and excited.

I smiled, Elise's soul within me becoming more warm. "Of course, feel free to come whenever you want. I miss you too, Ettie."

"Did you make any progress with the wedding, by the way?"

"John and I are still looking for a place to host the party, but we're already in talk with the church." I answered. "Hopefully we should be done soon."

"It took a while for us to find a good spot, too, but don't give up hope." She said in a reassuring tone.

"I know. We'll find something soon, I'm sure of it." I confidently replied. Mother would probably be able to help should we keep struggling.

As I glanced at Claire, I saw her staring at me intensely, surprised.

"I have things to do, so I must leave you now. See you later, Ettie. Love you." I quickly said, feeling awkward.

"See ya, Liz! Love you too!"

After the call ended, I finished the cooking, bringing two plates to the table.

"It was Elise's oldest sister." I explained to Claire.

"I-I see..."

Claire and I started to eat, in silence for a moment. She kept observing her plate, lost in thought.

"You're okay, Claire?" I asked, breaking the silence. She didn't respond, so I asked again, louder. "Claire?"

She finally looked at me, surprised. "Y-yeah?"

"Are you alright?" I repeated.

She lowered her eyes again. "I-I am... I was just... thinking. About what being a skinwalker meant, exactly... When I look at you, all I can see is Elise, even if I know you are Edward. You have all her memories, to the point of even being able to fool her own sister so flawlessly... The way you suddenly acted so differently during the phone call, it was... incredible."

"I donned multiple identities this last week, so I got used to it, I suppose... You'll understand when you wear someone, too." I replied. "It comes naturally to act like the person you wear."

"Even with Elise's boyfriend?" She then asked, taking me aback.

I blushed, avoiding her gaze. "Y-yeah... I... I had to... I didn't want to risk causing a rift between them..."

She giggled weakly. "It's hard to imagine you acting like a small, loving girlfriend. Did you... like it?"

"My sexuality didn't really change, if that's worrying you. I still prefer women. But having Elise's soul does make it easier, less awkward, especially if I fully immerse myself in her personality."

"I see. Thanks, Ed."

After this, we finished eating breakfast and waited for Dahlia to arrive, watching TV in the meantime. I hoped Dahlia had some ideas to help Claire fast, as it pained me to see her in such a state.