The attempt failed

He closed his eyes and focused hard on his own sleeping body. Several seconds passed, but when he opened his eyes again, he was still trapped inside Karen’s older frame. The attempt obviously had failed. Before he could speak, a soft groan came from beside the bed. Mara’s body stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She sat up slowly, looking disoriented. Then her gaze landed on John. Mara’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at John. It was Karen who now occupied Mara’s body.

“That’s me!” she exclaimed, from Mara’s young mouth. “Why am I over there?! What is going on?!” She scrambled off the bed and took a few unsteady steps closer, staring intensely at her own body with a mixture of disbelief and anger. “How did this happen?!” Karen demanded, her voice growing louder. “Why am I in this brat’s body? This is ridiculous! Give me back my body right now!”

For a brief moment, her eyes flicked over her old body. Glancing at its older shape, the weight, and the tired lines on the face. A very subtle flicker of satisfaction crossed her expression as she felt how light and energetic Mara’s younger body felt in comparison. The expression however was instantly replaced by irritation, with Karen pointing an accusing finger at John. “Who are you and why did you do this?!” she snapped. “Explain yourself!” John just stood frozen, his mind racing as he faced a barrage of questions from an angry Mara inhabited by Karen.