The Doll

He made his choice by selecting the doll, causing the other two icons to disappear. The doll remained at the center of the screen, accompanied by new text that read ‘Trait: Dress Up’.

Alex felt a tingle of excitement ripple through his fingers as he watched the ‘Dress Up’ trait solidify on the screen. The app chimed softly, acknowledging his first steps with a brief congratulatory message. He glanced around the office, ensuring no one was peeking over his shoulder.

“Achievements unlocked: First Choice - 100 points, Common Card I - 100 points,” the app displayed.

The app closed itself, leaving Alex staring at his phone's home screen. He frowned slightly, feeling an odd sense of anti-climax.

The remaining hours of the workday passed sluggishly, except for his end-of-day meeting with his manager, Anna, who always scheduled their meetings for the last part of the day. As it grew late, Alex prepared to head home, strolling down the street. He was drawn to women’s clothing and shoe store display windows as he walked.

The mall being the shortest path to his place, he decided to cut through it. The bustling crowd moved around him in a blur as he meandered past storefronts, his eyes occasionally flicking to the high heels and elegant dresses lining the windows.

Originally intending to pass through merely, he felt a sudden magnetic pull towards a shoe store with a pair of black stiletto heels prominently displayed in the window. Something about their sleek design called to him, their glossy finish reflecting the fluorescent lights above. He paused, glancing around to ensure no one he knew was nearby. The app’s influence was subtle but insistent, nudging his curiosity into action.

Without fully realizing it, Alex stepped inside the store. The air smelled faintly of leather and perfume. A sales associate with a bright smile approached him. “Can I help you find something?” she asked.

“I'm just browsing,” Alex replied, his voice sounding more confident than he felt. He gravitated towards a pair of black Mary Jane pumps with a thick heel, the kind that exuded both elegance and a hint of danger.

He glanced around nervously, but the other shoppers were engrossed in their pursuits. His hand reached out almost involuntarily, fingers brushing against the smooth material. A shiver ran up his spine at the contact.

Looking down for his size, he picked up a size eight box and walked toward a seat. He sat down. He carefully opened the box, lifted one shoe, and inspected it closely. The leather was soft, yielding under his touch, and the thick heel felt solid in his hand. Taking a deep breath, he slipped off his loafers and slid his foot into the pump.

The pump felt uncomfortably tight, causing him to squirm in discomfort. He quickly removed the shoes and tried on the other feet, hoping for a better fit. But to his dismay, it felt just as constricting. He was torn between wanting to wear these stylish pumps and the pain they were causing him.

“May I help you with something?” a saleswoman’s voice cut through his trance. She was petite, her hair styled in loose waves, wearing a pastel pink dress that contrasted sharply with Alex’s conservative suit.

“I—” Alex stammered, caught off guard.

She smiled warmly. “Those are a beautiful choice. Would you like to try a size bigger?”

“Uh, yes, please,” Alex managed to say, his mouth dry. He handed her the shoes and watched as she disappeared into the back room.

While waiting, Alex’s mind raced. What was he doing? He had never felt this pull, this strange compulsion that seemed to gain strength with each passing minute. He thought about the app, ‘Trait: Dress Up,’ and wondered how far it would push him.

The saleswoman returned with a new box. “Here you go, these should be more comfortable,” she said, her eyes twinkling as if she knew a secret he didn’t.

As Alex slipped on the shoes, excitement, and apprehension filled him. They fit perfectly, but he couldn’t help feeling a sense of unease as he stood up. The pressure from the heels was exhilarating but also foreign. His posture changed dramatically, and he felt a surge of confidence, but in the back of his mind, a voice was telling him to take them off.

“How do they feel?” the saleswoman asked, breaking through his thoughts.

“Great,” he replied, trying to convince himself.

She smiled knowingly. “Would you like to wear them out?”

He hesitated, torn between wanting to show off his newfound confidence and the fear of being judged. But in the end, he nodded. “Yes, I think I will.”

Alex's heart raced with conflicting emotions as he walked to the register to pay for the shoes. He couldn’t believe how much a simple pair of shoes could affect him, yet at the same time, he couldn’t ignore the doubts creeping into his mind. Was this really who he wanted to be?

As the salesgirl rings up your shoes, she shares a helpful tip. “Just remember, there’s typically a 2-size difference between women’s and men’s sizes,” she says. “So if you wear an 8 in men’s, you should look for a size 10 in women’s.”

“Oh, I see,” Alex said, feeling relief and embarrassment at his oversight. The saleswoman chuckled softly, a genuinely kind sound that put him somewhat at ease.

“Don’t worry; it happens all the time,” she said as she handed him the bag with his new shoes. “Enjoy them!”

As he stepped out of the store, the click-clack of the heels on the tiled floor resonated through the mall. Each step reminded him of the sudden, bizarre turn his life had taken. The shoes fit perfectly now, snug but comfortable, and with each stride, he felt an odd mix of vulnerability and empowerment.

He caught glimpses of himself in the reflective surfaces of store windows. His conservative suit clashed dramatically with the feminine elegance of the black Mary Jane.

Alex pressed on, the conflicting sensation of arousal and anxiety mingling with each step. The heels striking the mall floor created a rhythm that matched his accelerating heartbeat. He couldn’t help but feel eyes on him, though whether it was real or imagined, he couldn’t tell.

His mind raced with thoughts about Anna. The sternly professional woman who dominated his work life, always so meticulously composed and demanding. What would she think if she saw him now, indulging in such an inexplicable whim? A shiver of fear and excitement ran down his spine at the thought.

When he reached the mall's exit, he paused, glancing over his shoulder one last time. The crowd seemed indifferent to his transformation, lost in their own errands and distractions. But Alex felt exposed, as if he were wearing a sign that screamed his secret.

Stepping out into the cool evening air, he decided to take the long way home to avoid any chance encounters with coworkers or neighbors. As he navigated quieter streets, the awkwardness of walking in heels slowly gave way to a tentative confidence. Each step began to feel more natural.

He made his way up the stairs to his apartment, each step accompanied by a soothing rhythm of his heels clicking against the concrete. Once inside, he leaned against the wall for support as he carefully unbuckled the two delicate straps that held his shoes in place. He took them off and neatly placed them next to the door before relapsing onto the couch.

The silence of his apartment enveloped him, a stark contrast to the cacophony of the mall. Alex stared at the black Mary Jane, their glossy finish gleaming under the dim light. He wiggled his toes, savoring freedom after the tight confinement.

Moments passed, and he felt a curious blend of pride and shame. The app’s influence was undeniable, steering him into uncharted territory. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was on the brink of something transformative yet terrifyingly unknown.

Alex stood up and made his way to the kitchen. He decided on spaghetti for dinner, something simple to keep his mind occupied. The act of cooking provided a semblance of normalcy. He boiled water, added salt, and dropped the pasta in.

As the noodles softened, he diced garlic and onions. A sizzle rose from the pan as he sautéed them in olive oil. The aroma filled the kitchen, grounding him momentarily. He added marinara sauce and watched it simmer, the steam rising like a fog lifting from his muddled thoughts.

He plated his meal and moved back to the living room. Netflix was an easy choice; he picked a show at random, something light-hearted and distracting. He settled onto the couch, twirling pasta around his fork and letting the mindless entertainment wash over him.

But even as the dialogues and laugh tracks echoed in the background, Alex couldn’t stay detached for long. His phone buzzed with notifications. Taking it as a sign to open his browser, he navigated to online shopping sites almost involuntarily.

He scrolled through pages of high heels, admiring the different designs and colors. A pair of black and towering stilettos caught his eye—sleek, elegant, deeply alluring. Without much thought, he added them to his cart. He continued to browse, feeling an inexplicable draw to the items displayed before him. His heartbeat quickened with each new addition—red pumps with an open toe, strappy sandals adorned with glittering rhinestones. Each click brought an adrenaline rush, a heady mix of fear and delight.

The high heels, however, were just the beginning. Alex’s curiosity extended to clothing next. He navigated through sections he had never clicked on, including dresses in various cuts and fabrics, skirts that flared out or hugged the body in all the right places, and blouses with delicate lace trimmings. The app’s notification seemed to echo in his mind, urging him on.

He stumbled upon a sleek black pencil skirt paired with a silky white blouse in a curated set. He imagined how it would feel against his skin and transform his appearance. With another click, he added the items to the cart.

Next, he selected a pair of tailored trousers that promised a perfect fit and a fitted blazer—an office outfit that exuded power and femininity. His fingers moved almost with a life of their own as he added more items—stockings, tights, and even a delicate lingerie set in midnight blue.

Alex’s cart was brimming with items reflecting an identity he had never embraced. The anticipation made his heart race as he hit the checkout button, and he felt an exciting yet unsettling sense of liberation. The app’s influence was seeping deeper into his subconscious, embedding its whims into his desires. He closed the laptop with a satisfied sigh, but the nagging doubt lingered like a shadow.

The following day, Alex woke to the sound of his alarm blaring. He rubbed his eyes and stretched, feeling the familiar stiffness from another restless night. As he showered and dressed for work, he couldn’t help but glance at the black Mary Jane by his door. They seemed to beckon him, their glossy sheen tantalizing.

In a moment of impulsiveness, he slipped them on again. He wobbled slightly but steadied himself quickly; the previous evening’s practice had served him well. He pulled on his suit, and the contrast between his conservative attire and feminine footwear made him feel exhilaratingly rebellious.

Alex kept his feet hidden under his desk at work, only venturing out when necessary. His heart hammered every time someone walked by—even Anna’s intimidating presence seemed more overbearing today.

At the same time he installed the app the day before, it showed a notification asking him for a new choice.