Jessica clutched the edge of the sink, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps as she gazed at her reflection. A young lady stared back at her, unrecognizable and scared, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and disbelief. Her hands trembled as she traced the changes—her smooth skin, the exaggerated curves, the heat coursing through her veins that seemed to pulse in time with her erratic heartbeat.
Her mind raced. I need help. Someone has to know what’s happening to me. But the thought of walking into the ER, of facing her colleagues, froze her in place. What would they say? What would they think?
How do you explain this? she thought frantically. Her scrubs were stretched taut, practically obscene on her newly exaggerated figure. The thought of anyone seeing her like this—her youthful face paired with a body that didn’t seem entirely human—made her stomach churn. What would they think?
Her eyes darted to the breakroom door, the muffled hum of activity just beyond it. She imagined the other nurses and doctors turning to look at her, their faces twisted in shock, pity, or worse—disgust. The idea made her chest tighten, and her nails dug into the counter as she struggled to keep from hyperventilating.
"No," she whispered to herself, shaking her head. "They’ll think I’m a freak. They’ll lock me up, or... or dissect me like some kind of lab animal."
The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine. She glanced at the bandage on her shoulder, where the homeless man had bitten her. The wound pulsed faintly beneath the layers of gauze, almost as if it were alive. She peeled back the edge of the bandage with trembling fingers, revealing smooth, unbroken skin beneath—no sign of the bite, no scab, nothing.
Her stomach flipped. It’s gone? How is that possible?
The heat surged again, and she staggered back, her legs wobbling as her thighs brushed together. Her scrubs felt suffocating, too tight, too restrictive. Her hands clutched at the fabric, desperate to loosen it, to breathe, but she stopped herself. She couldn't risk anyone walking in, seeing her like this.
Jessica’s mind reeled. I have to figure this out on my own. If I tell anyone, they’ll think I’m losing it. Or worse... She swallowed hard, her throat dry. What if they find out about the bite? About the homeless man?
She shook her head, forcing herself to take a deep breath. For now, she’d have to keep this a secret. She couldn’t trust anyone—not until she knew what was happening to her. But the question loomed, heavy and unrelenting in her mind.