Switch

I hear the fan across the room, the paper on the table near me turning themselves along the soft wind it blows.

Nevertheless, this body is not mine. It’s complicated, I know, but it is what it is.

I sat up and I never felt so relieved. Today, I am trapped in a young person’s body.

The strength and feeling of youth could never compare to what I went through yesterday. Trapped in a seventy-year-old man’s body was atrocious. I had difficulty standing up and laying down basically everything was bad. That old man didn’t take care of his body. He had a terrible kidney making my every move painful from the waist down to the sole of my feet.

I don’t know my name for a certain, I don’t know who am I or what am I. For almost two years I’ve been stuck in this endless cycle of waking up into different bodies but I learned two things from shifting from one body to another.

First. I have no control as to whom or to where I am being shifted into. If I sleep or unconscious the next time I opened my eyes, it’s no longer the same. Different body, different genders and different lifestyle.

Secondly. The time was constant. I have to make it clear because there were times I thought I was time travelling but it turns out I was just shifted into a different country with different lifestyle.

Looking in the mirror. I saw a young boy probably at the age of eighteen. He has green eyes and dirty blonde hair. Quite the look he got. I bet this kid gets all the ladies. I hopped in the shower and brushed my teeth after.

Next thing to do is to get dressed. I went through his closet grabbed a pair of dark jeans and some hoodies. Look at myself in the mirror, good, I complimented myself.

“Damn,” next assignment is to know who this person is so I was looking around for clues. I saw his phone under his pillow opened it using face recognition. Thank you, technology.

I opened his messaging application and saw a numerous chat box. This kid is somewhat social. I recon.

Brad. Shelly. Fiona. Big Bro. Mom. He is very close with his mom and to his brother as well. I looked at his gallery and saw few photos. Most of them are from explicit websites screenshotted. No girlfriend. I was relieved, I don’t want to have the trouble knowing how am I going to handle that.

I saw the time closing to seven in the morning. I am ready. The plan is to eat breakfast, go to school and just survive the day. I took a deep breath. Opened the door and ran downstairs and there she is, the mother.

“Good… Morning Rick…” the mother said confusingly as she watches me walk down the stairs. Shoot. I thought to myself.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as smiling down at her.

“You’re up early. It not even seven and you’re already downstairs showered and clothed. Odd, my dear. Odd,” she said as squinted her eyes.

“I was hungry ma,” I said. I leaned down the counter island. The smell of freshly fried bacon and eggs. My eyes could have never had a better breakfast. Yesterday’s breakfast was yogurt, bread, milk and a lot of medication. I started to munch my way into euphoria.

“Ma? since when have you addressed me as “ma”?” she turned towards me dropping more eggs in front of me. “hmm?” she added. 

“You’re my mother am I right?” I said awkwardly showing her the best smile. Looking closely at her, I saw the resemblance. She may not have the blonde hair but I got her eyes and the perfect smile. She is his mom.

“Of course I am but it’s the first time I heard you call me that. It’s always been mommy sweetheart,” She whined.

Oh my god, she is just so entertaining. “Mommy, can I have my breakfast now?” I said looking at her. She raised her eyebrows and continued cooking.

I sighed, relieved at that awkward encounter. I need a better response; this kid’s brain is quite slow. 

Not even a minute after I can hear the heavy footsteps. I didn’t bother looking up at that person. I already know who it is. The older brother. I’m not really sure about their relationship but I don’t think they are as close as apples and oranges. So, I’m going with the cold shoulder with a warm smile for the day.

I was wrong. I felt him behind me and suddenly I felt a hand ruffling my hair making me jump.

“Rick why are you so early today?” He laughed as he ruffled my hair continuously before I pushed him away. Looking up to my so-called-brother and I was shocked. He was gorgeous. Shoot.

He has dark hair like his mom, green eyes like mine but he is more handsome than his little brother. I was mesmerized. I tried my best not to look shocked, I looked away immediately after a brief silence erupted the kitchen.

I chuckled and smiled at the older brother.

“I was hungry bro, smelled the food and decided to eat. That’s it,” I responded as he gently leaned down and sniffed me.

“Wow, mommy, Rick even showered.” He commented happily before ruffling my hair for a few seconds.

“I know; I was shocked as well.” She said laughing quietly as grabbed the stool and sat in front of me.

“Anyways, Did the Cruella girl snap out last night? I heard she punched Sammy right across his face knocked him out totally,” the brother smiled telling the story. I know that incident it was the talk of the night at the group chat but I don’t want to cause trouble so I need to play it safe.

“I haven’t heard from them, I went home and knocked myself out as well,” I tried my best to mimic his actions as much as I can. The devilish smile he has was easy to mimic but his little brother’s looks compared to him was quite subpar. Rick has a more angelic face, soft big green eyes and a thin layer of lips. His older brother on the other hand had dark strand of locks, almond shaped eyes and a bit plumped lips. He is about three inches taller and has a leaner body that I have. Toned but still slim.

“Right, whatever. Don’t get close to those people buddy. They’re not safe for--- wait a minute?” he stopped talking midway and noticed something. It’s almost as if he had seen Jesus through me.

“What?” I asked munching the bacon I had in my hand. The saltiness and the crisp made my day so much better. It’s been so long since I had a proper meal.

“You wore that hoodie, I gave it you last year and you told me you hated it,” He was amused instantly.

“For a change dear old brother, for a change,” I responded raising my shoulder making it seem like I had thought about this for a bit. He didn’t respond back instead he continued to eat his breakfast.

Soon after, I am standing in front of a school. I was a freshmen and my handsome older brother was a medical student and is currently is assigned as a medical assistant at a nearby hospital.

I on the other hand is enrolled in business and administration, Lucky, I added.

I’ve always wanted to be in school. Running across the hallway when I am deemed late, talking to friends and maybe dating someone but I know I had to lay low for today. I still have no clue who am I or who are my friends are. Rick’s phone says I have many but none of them even said good morning to me this morning though.

I looked at the school map and saw where the business school was and it was a bit far but it was manageable. I had to get across the art museum and the English department.

A few steps and somehow I felt something quite familiar to me as If I had been here before. The trees and the statues placed near the art museum somehow speaks to me, figuratively. I looked closely and somehow I know I had been here before. My heart was racing; this is the first time I had this feeling of nostalgia. Sweaty palms and butterflies in my stomach.

I was debating whether to enter the Art Department or continue with Rick’s life but before I can even make a decision I felt a hand on my shoulder snapping my mind back to reality.

“Ricky, what are you standing over there? We’ll be late yeah?” a boy with same age as I am showed up behind me. I wasn’t able to answer immediately making him wave his hand inches away from my face. I blinked and I blinked.

“Yeah, let’s get to class,” I mumbled and walked alongside him.

“You alright? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you still drunk from last night? I’m pretty sure you left early too.” Somehow hearing him talk made me feel at ease. I think this guy is a bit more special to Rick that I thought. I can feel a slight tingling about my stomach and rise of heat in my face after seeing him. I know it’s not me and I’m pretty sure it’s this kids heart making me feel fluttered.

“Nah, I’m just feeling weird right now. It’ll pass.” I said trying my best not to make unnecessary conversation. During class I was sitting at the very back of the room. His name was Henry, the guy I met outside the Art Department. I told him I forgot my class and made a fuss about a hangover and fortunately he was kind enough to walk me to class and thanking him.

I took this opportunity and scanned Rick’s phone one more time. I double checked his gallery but nothing much is there. I don’t usually pry on my host’s social media but somehow I felt like I need to do it. I opened up his facebook account and checked his messages and bingo!

Henry Orla. Last chat was last night. I read it and it was just a normal conversation between dudes. I opened up his account and checked, saw a couple of pictures from last night that he was tagged in it.

I scrolled a little and saw a picture of Rick and Henry under the caption, “Thank you bud,”. Oh Ricky, your feelings are so heavy but there is nothing much I can do for you buddy. I thought.

It was lunch time and I decided to return to the art department. The feeling still lingers. I need to know why is that place so familiar.

I went inside while the others are on their way to the cafeteria but not me. I walked the hallways and I know something is familiar here. I’ve never been here before but these lockers and the faint smell of oil paints and marble hit my nose. People are looking at me like was lost or something but I ignored it. I can no longer care much about Rick's image, for now.

Students are all around too, on the ground reading, others on the stairs sketching something. It felt like I was home and it felt like I belong here. My chest was a bit heavy as I walked further more inside. I noticed one particular, it caught my eye as it was filled post stamps. The letters were all get well soon and thank you messages. Some are sadly goodbyes.

I irked me, I need to know. I looked around and notice a girl next to me. I tapped her shoulder. She turned around and gasped when she saw me. I smiled and used the best of my charm not to scare her away.

“Excuse me but do you mind telling me what happened to the owner of this locker?” I asked her.

She looked around for a little bit before answering me, that was odd.

“Her name is Lily, Lily Ohara. She goes to school here but three years ago she got in a terrible accident and went into coma. The letters were there because her parents decided to pull her life support tomorrow. A lot of her friends are against it but she was not able to move or have any sign that she was waking up. Today is her last day.” She looked at her locker making a sad face.

“Can you tell me which hospital is she in?”

“She at the De Lave Medical Hospital, it’s quite near the university. It’s about a five-minute walk from here.”

“Thank you!” I immediately walked out of building. It was the hospital where the older brother works. What in the actual coincidence is that? After ten minutes arrived at the hospital. I took a deep breath as I stood in front of the receptionist.

I waited for her to finish her call.

“Excuse me?” I asked, she looked at me confusingly. “Oh, hi Rick. Your brother is in the operating room right now. You can wait here if you like.” She smiled at me.

“Oh, no. I was actually looking for someone in particular.” I was taken back. She knows me.

“Who are looking for?”

“Lily, Lily Ohara? I heard she is confined here.”

“Oh Rick, I understand it must be difficult for you, especially for your brother but I’m pretty sure you had heard the news, right?” She looked at me concerned. “She in room 501, you know that right? You visited her last week.”

“I did?”

“Yes Rick, you did. Why do you sound so weird? What happened?” she stood up and walked a bit closer to me looking at me straight in the eyes.

“Nothing, I’m just in a loopy situation right now. What time is my brother coming out?”

“He’ll be out a less than half an hour I think; don’t worry I’ll tell him you came to visit her.”

“Can I visit her now?” I asked.

“Rick I’m sorry. Her parents strictly said not to let anybody in after the incident at your school regarding her situation.” She sighed as she looked at her monitor. “I could let you see her since you’re quite close to her but…”

“Are they really planning to plug her life support?” I cut her midway.

“It got moved next week. Her family considered her friends wishes to at least let her be visited by her friends before she goes,” she sighed.

“So how many days are we talking about?”

“Five days max, today is Wednesday and her parents decided it would be done by Monday. I thought you knew about this buddy. Your brother’s having a hard time accepting it and it seems like he almost didn’t believe it was happening.” She smiled softly at me.

“Can I asked you a favor? I just need to see her. I just need to confirm something. Please.” I asked her trying not to sound like a creep prying over a girl under comatose.

“She is in room 501 and right now her parents are home to rest. You can see her for a few minutes but no more than that okay?”

“Thank you!” I walked towards the elevator and pressed the number five button. The butterflies in my stomach doesn’t stop. It’s almost nauseating to me now but I had to follow my gut. There is something about this Lily person that bothers me completely.

The elevator’s ding switched me back to reality. I walked out and turned to the right. 509, 507, 505, 503. Finally, I was here, the glass window outside the room made my gut feeling worse. I was so close to passing out at this point.

I see her. I gently opened the door. The room smelled like flowers, it was lavender.

I walked towards her bed. My hearing was completely disrupted. It felt like all my senses are shutting down the more I walked closer to her. I slowly reached out and touched the side of bed trying to get a good look at her. She was beautiful, brown hair, long eyelashes and pink lips. I looked around noticing the flower on her bedside table.

It was lavender.

I looked down and I brought my hands closer to her hands.

That’s when the sharp pain started to spread all around my body. I touched her hand and powerful wave of pain pushed inside me. It was unbearable. I fell down to my knees and starting to have difficulty breathing. My vision is starting to go dark, oh no. I thought. What if this kid had heart problems or something? Am I going to pass out and wake up in a different body again tomorrow. I was so close to something. Something different. I can’t let it go.

Help… Please….

Then the darkness wrapped me completely. There and then I was preparing myself from numerous possibility even though I know one possibility rises among others. I was going to wake up from a different body in a different place.

Softly I can hear someone calling me.

“Rick!” I can hear the older brother’s voice calling me.

“Rick! Are you okay? Wake up buddy!”

I opened my eyes and saw a bright light in front of me. The soft mattress on my back. I could barely feel my body I tried to move but I can’t. I tried to move my limbs, anything. My fingers, I can feel it slightly. I tried to move.

“Rick?”

“What happened? Where am I?”

 I heard Rick’s voice and it didn’t come from me.