Deep Down

One foot after the other, Tim moved down the hot summer sidewalk in the direction the bus had passed. The street was not busy, and the sidewalk less so. The neighbourhood he found himself in was mostly industrial, with the odd specialty store here and there. Passing a storefront that advertised both natural remedies and discount clothing (probably would be out of business in less than a year), Tim paused to take in his reflection. There he stood, the reflection of the young man he'd seen in the mirror his whole life, but in so many ways a stranger.

His hair, normally short cropped, was now was long and flowing. Tim's face was now adorned with the same make-up that he had seen on the woman from the bus. Even his clothes, formerly belonging to the woman whose name had been Charity, looked tailored to his thin, masculine frame, while at the same time seemed to accentuate his body in ways that he had never considered. A hairless chest was on display by the plunging neckline of the blouse. Long, smooth legs, calf muscles accentuated by the strappy heels on his feet, travelled the long distance, ending shockingly close to his groin, barely concealed by the abbreviated denim shorts.

What was worse was that Tim, staring at his reflection, felt so comfortable.

He had first noticed it during after walking only two blocks from the bus stop. Each step he took in the alien shoes felt natural. By then he should have broken an ankle, moving as he was on the stilted shoes. As it was, Tim felt completely at home. Experimentally he quickened the pace, even jogged a little. Not a hint of uncertainty. No, whatever had happened to him on the bus was a much bigger and deeper transformation than trading an outfit. These clothes belonged to him. And he to them.

Slowing his pace, Tim felt the heat of the sun on his exposed skin. A quick inventory of his purse flipped through his mind, confirming that he had not brought any sunscreen when he packed it that morning.

Wait.

How had he known what was in the purse?

Thinking back, he remembered picking it up before leaving the bus. He remembered holding it as he made his way down the sidewalk. Tim had no recollection of ever opening it.

And yet...

It was his purse. That morning he had packed it. His ID was held inside, as was some lipstick, a compact, a tampon, his cell phone, a pack of gum, some mascara, eye liner, his keys, and a snack bar. While he couldn't remember ever opening his purse, he knew that he had loaded it with everything inside.

The effect was dizzying. Maybe that evening he could talk to Alec about, try to get a handle on the feeling.

Alec?

His fiancé. Alec was his fiancé. Tim was getting married. To Alec. His heart fluttered for a moment at the thought. The day he'd dreamed about since he had been a little girl. Marrying the man of his dreams. But Tim hadn't ever been a little girl. He knew that to be true. Deep down inside, he remembered every moment of being a boy, growing up, awkward puberty, crushes on girls in his class. And yet the opposite was also true. While he had no memories of it, he knew in his soul that he had been a girl, that he had grown up and dreamed of a big wedding, white dress, handsome groom...

Quickening his pace once again, Tim set out toward the flea market. This was unbearable. Tim wasn't the kind of girl who would just sit around and let disaster happen. No, whatever had happened, Tim was going to put a stop to it.