It is after classes and the school has rapidly emptied. Drew and Evan are hovering nearby with a look of concern covering both their faces.
“So Taylor, what are you going to do?” Evan asks Taylor bluntly but with a degree of sympathy.
“I don’t know. Wish I knew…” he answered.
“More importantly, Taylor, how are you feeling?” Drew asks Taylor.
“I feel…” Taylor was going to say “like shit,” but the question sparked a rapid internal assessment. Taylor finds that he actually feel pretty damn good. All traces of pain and nausea have vanished and he feels surprisingly peppy like someone with cabin fever out for the first run of spring. “I feel weird, not bad or anything, just kind of confused,” he elaborates. “I don't have any idea how this happened, let alone an idea of where to look for a cure. I am not sure anybody would believe me anyway, I mean I don’t have any proof, aside from myself.” Taylor buries his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to do,” he sobs, surprising himself with an emotional edge to his voice. He feels his eyes burn, as if fighting back tears.
“It is okay,” Evan consoles Taylor, taking the lead. “You can see a doctor in the morning or head there straight away. The University Hospital is world renowned.”
“People don’t just magically change into the opposite sex. There has to be a logical reason for it,” added Drew. “No sense freaking out about it. Maybe it is just temporary, either way you don’t seem to be in pain… So that is quite positive.”
“We could take you to the emergency room at the city hospital now if you want,” Evan suggests.
Taylor imagines how that scenario would play out. In his fantasy he would soon be a resident in a padded room, imprisoned in a mental hospital next to an axe-murderer. “No, that is a bad idea,” he predicts. “I don’t have any life threatening symptoms, I’d be waiting for ten hours just to see a moron who wouldn’t be used to treating, well this,” he says with a gesture at his chest.
“You’re right, Taylor,” Drew agrees. “I think you will need to consult some more appropriate experts for your … condition.”
“I know. I had similar thoughts. I did some research briefly but didn’t have any luck,” Taylor informs his friends. he stretches out his slender arms.
“Well we will help you if we can,” promised Drew with a look to Evan. Evan nodded readily.
“Well I doubt there is anything we can do tonight,” Taylor says.
“If that is true, then nothing left to do but keep living life the way you usually do, right?” Evan concludes. Evan often had a simple way of framing things that was refreshing.
“Yeah, I guess,” Taylor replied, he agreed with Evan in principle but finds himself wondering if such a thing is possible in his circumstances.
“Your body has changed a bit, but you’re still you...uh...you know?” Evan fumbles with his words but Taylor appreciates the sentiment.
What Evan said was true. On the inside Taylor was still the same person he always was, or at least he hoped that is still the case.
“You seem stressed,” appraises Drew.
“I am stressed! Fucking look at me!”
Drew blushes as he takes Taylor’s suggestion and ends up staring at him, his gaze lingering for an uncomfortable duration on Taylor’s breasts.
“Maybe a game would get your mind off of things for a few hours,” suggests Evan. “You should take it easy, at least until this is all sorted out.”
“Yes, a real video game would really take his...uh- her...Taylor’s mind off his...her….predicament,” Drew suggests instead.
“A distraction is maybe just what I need right now. Where should I go?” Taylor thinks to himself.
Taylor decides to: