Cheese and Talk

You and David weave through the Saturday morning crowd toward the artisanal cheese stand, where a bearded man in a striped apron arranges samples on wooden boards. Clara and Zara have disappeared into the crafts section, their laughter occasionally rising above the market chatter.

"Think the ladies will be occupied for a bit?" you ask, nodding toward an impressive display of aged cheddars and soft blues.

David checks his watch. "Knowing Zara's newfound obsession with handmade soaps? We've got at least fifteen minutes."

You both accept sample cubes of something sharp and crumbly from the vendor. As you move slightly away from the busiest part of the stall, you seize the moment.

"So," you begin, keeping your voice casual but low, "how are you really doing with... everything that's happened?"

David's shoulders tense briefly before he forces them to relax. He takes another bite of cheese, chewing thoughtfully as he scans the crowd to ensure no one is within earshot.

"Honestly?" he finally says. "It's fucking bizarre, Matt. Sometimes I wake up and wonder if I dreamed the whole thing—you transforming into a petite redhead right in front of me."

He selects another cheese sample, this one soft and herb-flecked. "My therapist thinks I'm speaking metaphorically when I talk about 'my flatmate's transformation.' If she knew the literal truth..."

"You're seeing a therapist?" you ask, surprised.

"Started the day after you changed back," David admits. "There's no self-help book for 'How to Process Your Male Flatmate Temporarily Becoming a Woman You Were Attracted To.'"

You wince slightly. "About that—"

"No, don't apologize," David cuts you off. "We've been over this. None of us knew what we were dealing with." He lowers his voice further. "But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't complicated. Seeing you with Clara now—as you—it helps. Makes it feel more... normal somehow."

The cheese vendor approaches with offerings of a creamy goat cheese. You both accept and step even further aside.

"And Zara?" you prompt gently.

A genuine smile breaks across David's face. "Unexpected. Completely unexpected. But good—really good. She's sharp as hell and calls me on my shit." He laughs softly. "Plus, she has no connection to... all that. Fresh start."

"I'm glad," you say sincerely.

David nods toward a particularly pungent blue cheese. "Let's get that one for the picnic Clara's inevitably planning. And the creamy goat for Zara—she mentioned liking it last night."

As David engages with the vendor, you notice something in his demeanor—a lightness that's been absent since the transformation. Whatever therapy and time are doing, they seem to be working.

"One more thing," David says quietly as the vendor wraps your purchases. "Thank you for hosting last night. For including Zara. I know our little circle has this massive secret, but she fits somehow, doesn't she?"

"She does," you agree, accepting the paper-wrapped cheese. "Maybe someday we can tell her."

"Maybe," David says, though his tone suggests he's not convinced. "For now, though, this works. The four of us, building something new from the wreckage of whatever the hell that app did."

You spot Clara and Zara heading your way through the crowd, arms linked, both laughing at something on Zara's phone.

"Looks like our time's up," you say. "Ready to rejoin civilization?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," David replies with a wry smile, then waves to catch the women's attention.

10:35 | Saturday 16 August 2025 | Putney Farmers Market