Give him a chance

The more you let yourself think about it, the more you start to think Gerald has the right idea. You’ve tried to fight this, but what good has that really done? Maybe...maybe accepting it, even just for a little while, is the better option. And if Gerald can help you do that...would that be so bad? Some part of you is screaming in outrage, furious that you’re even considering this, but that voice becomes harder to hear with every heartbeat. “Why don’t we go back to my place?” you say, rather than directly answering Gerald’s question.

From the relief you can see on his face, Gerald is clearly just happy you’re still talking to him after he said what he did. You follow him to his car, and soon you’re right back where you started. After carrying in all the clothes you bought, you realize Gerald is looking at you. “Maybe we can start,” he says, clearly trying to speak around some of what he said before, “With seeing what’s up with your life?”

You nod your head at that, and decide to start with looking at your wallet. It’s the same black leather wallet you’ve had for years, the same one you got as a present from your little sister Jennifer when you graduated college. But what’s not the same is what is inside it.

Sure, the same spare bills populate the fold, and your debit card looks the same...but the photo of your driver’s license is definitely not the one you’re used to. Instead, it shows your new face, and you pull the ID out to look at it closer. It says your name is Julia Muldive, and most of your other information there is the same as it was before. That same name is on every card in your wallet.

You’re shocked to see this. How powerful is this app?! Gerald looks over your shoulder, curious to see what’s got you riled up, and freezes as well. “The hell?” he asks, evidently just as surprised by this as you are. “If this changed...check your Facebook!” Without even thinking, you’re pulling your phone out to check that app, and sure enough the profile is for Julia. Almost all the same friends, though there are definitely more women in there now than there were before, and less men, but all your close friends are still on the list.

Jumping from application to application, you double-check and see that everywhere you can look, this is Julia’s life, not yours. A new idea occurs to you, and you run into your bedroom to find that all your clothes have been replaced by ones that better fit your new body. You run a hand through your longer hair. “Looks like I won’t have to worry about work after all...” It appears as though, with the exception of Gerald and yourself, everyone and everything in the world remembers you being a woman your entire life.