"Let me show you," said Erin. She went down the hallway into the bedroom and came back holding a simple T-
shirt.
"I keep a few of these around for demonstration purposes," she said. "Look at this and tell me if it looks at
all strange to you."
She handed the shirt to him. He looked it over, front and back, and it appeared to be a pretty ordinary
yellow cotton T-shirt. He handed it back.
"It looks normal enough to me," he said.
"Watch," she said. She lifted the shirt up over her head, slipped it on, and stood comfortably still,
partially clothed for the first time that night.
"I don't see --- " began John.
She held up her finger to halt him, and then gasped, her eyes unfocused and mouth hanging open. As he
watched, the fabric slowly sank into her skin like a ship sinking into the ocean until it was completely gone,
her pretty breasts once again exposed for John's hungry eyes.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. "So you see," she said. "I can't wear most clothing. Ever. I
lost a couple of my favorite shirts the first time it happened."
He boggled. "Your body swallows everything it touches?"
She nodded. "Only metals don't get absorbed. And anything living --- my cat can sleep next to me without any
trouble. I keep around aluminum foil to wear when I have to answer the door or get the mail. And the whole
time, I can feel my skin trying to swallow it and rejecting it. I take it off as soon as the door closes, and
just tell everyone else I'm a nudist."
John shook his head. "I just can't believe it. How did this happen? Have you always been like this?"