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Chapter 7

CARA

I felt numb. I didn’t know if I was feeling the right feeling I would have felt if I were in my original body. I knew I was walking but I somehow didn’t feel it. It had always been this way since I found out I was residing in Bridgette’s body. Maybe because I was not familiar with my hands, arms, feet, legs—everything. It was like being half-awake—you knew what you were doing but you weren’t sure if it was real.

But like any other dreams, I was hoping I would soon wake up and adapt the motion, the feel of Bridgette’s body. I literally stumbled more than three times in her heels. My feet weren’t as long as hers and I had to struggle—while wearing the c-collar.

After some time, I finally found the trick. I just made myself believe that Bridgette was me and I was Bridgette. That way, I became aware of every muscle, joints, sensations, extremities—everything except her mind. I was still in full control of my own speech and thinking if not my movements. That would take a while for me to master.

“Your feet are quite big for these heels,” I noted, cringing with every step.

“No, it’s not. You’re just tired of walking. This is why we have to take back our cars. I’ll do it tomorrow.”

I turned to her sharply. “Don’t forget that you will be at the hospital tomorrow evening. I’ll get the car in the morning, I’ll drive to my place and we’ll go through everything you’ll have to do.”

She groaned. “I don’t think I can do it. I am not made to be a nurse.”

“Just say so and I can go back home. I don’t need to do this meeting either.”

“Fine! I’ll go to the damn hospital.”

“And remember: try to avoid Dr.—”

“Newman. Yeah, yeah. I get it. He’s your worst enemy in the hospital. Anybody else I need to know about?”

“You, but then you are in my body so I couldn’t hate you as much as I did before. It’s like hating myself.”

Bridgette sighed. “Me either. I can’t hate you for now because I love myself too much. Just look at you. You’re perfect.”

I rolled my eyes. “You give yourself too much credit.”

“Well, it’s true. I look perfect. Have you not looked in the mirror?”

“Whatever.”

BRIDGETTE

We continued to walk down the crowded sidewalk to my office. I noted how Cara was struggling with my body and I could say the same. It was not easy to be trapped in her body either. It was a good thing she didn’t have to wear high heels. But I must admit, the lady had some muscles. Her legs felt fantastic felt I could walk all day.

“Keep your head high,” I whispered beside her as we entered the big building. The guard looked at her with glimmer in his eyes and I noted that. I never even noticed he looked at me that way! “Follow me,” I said to her when we entered the lobby, walking directly to the elevators.

There were a few people waiting for the doors to open. I took Cara’s hand and pulled her aside. “When we enter my office, you have to ask for the reports I asked my secretary to do days ago. I already told her I had an accident so she wouldn’t ask you anything. Just act like I would. Go directly to the red door to the left. The one to the right is the conference room. Do you follow me?”

“What’s your secretary’s name?”

“Lora, Cora, Dora…whatever. I can never get it right.”