Body Hopper

Ch 0: the one where she takes over

The African American goddess that I had taken over today had an air about her that I wished I could extract and keep to myself. She was confident— even the way her body had been trained to walk, the way she carried herself. She was bold and beautiful and I could easily feel that.

She had a clearly more positive outlook on life and I wondered if there was a way to remain as this girl permanently. She had a plan today— I could see through her bright brown eyes as she flirted with her reflection. She didn't know I was there, observing her day. None of them ever did.

And just as quickly as the day would begin and I would get to experience her perfect life, I would be taken back into my own body at sunset and cursed to look at a face I dreaded. I was sick of it. If I could run away from my body, I would.

My face— so pale and small, my body— larger than I would like. I grimaced at my reflection, the soft dark circles under my eyes making it obvious that I hadn't slept in days, though technically that's all I do when I join souls with strangers and observe their day.

I sighed, taking a deep breath, shutting my eyes and reopening them to meet the reflection of a beautiful dark-skinned woman. Her curly hair surrounded her round face in a way that framed it beautifully. She was larger than I would have liked to be too, but she wore it well and certainly felt pretty and happy in her own skin.

It was a Monday morning, the coffee was set on the counter top, the steam flowing out as the smell entered her small button nose. I wondered if she had gotten surgery for that nose, it seemed too perfect. And yet again, she didn't seem like the type to recognize her own flaws— but, as I've learned over the years, nobody was perfect.

I saw her fingers reach for the mug, a shiny diamond ring flashed on her finger and I grew more curious; perhaps her partner was someone I could visit another day. And suddenly, she ran to the bathroom and glared at her reflection.

"Who are you?" She shouted.

I immediately was thrust back into my body— forced to see my drab face once again.

Shit.

No.

Take me back.

I took another deep breath, shutting my eyes once again and there I was. Back in the kitchen as she drank her coffee. It tasted slightly minty and I recognized the taste of toothpaste in her mouth.

"Observer. Why did you choose me?" She muttered into the soft smoke of the mug. She was sitting on a seat and staring at her reflection in the coffee. I couldn't respond, simply just stare at her. It made me wonder how she knew I was there. I was usually undetectable.

"Well, since you can't speak, I'm assuming you're wondering how I know you've chosen me today." She chuckled, "you have an odd energy surrounding you— it's rather strong, I can't really describe it, kind of negative. You better not ruin my day." She announced, taking another sip of her coffee before standing up and washing the cup in the sink, which was surrounded by a beautiful brown marble countertop.

She put the mug away and walked through her large home, shiny and sleek walls made it look almost like an office.

"I'll look so dumb if nobody is actually there and I'm just talking to myself." She snickered to herself, "whatever, anyway, observer. My name is Mia, I'm thirty-three. I know it's part of your job to figure out the basics so I'll just tell you."

I remained silent, knowing that if I allowed her to realize that she was correct about my presence, I would be sent back and forced to spend the day looking at my pale face as punishment for breaking unwritten rules.

"I don't know why you chose me today, but I hope that it serves your purpose." She walked through some double doors, meeting the smile of a shirtless man on a king sized bed surrounded by white silk sheets.

"Morning sunshine." Presumably her husband said, he sat up as she approached him.

"Baby I think I have an observer today." She said, kissing his cheek and walking toward the closet. She dressed quickly, avoiding her reflection and I wondered if she usually did that or if it was because I was there.

"Why?" The man asked and I memorized his face, trying to ingrain it in my brain so that I could take over him tomorrow. Sometimes, I'd find myself way too invested in people's lives that I'd find ways to return and see them— whether through their spouses, kids, neighbors, or even as the mailman.

"I'm not sure." She responded. "I'm running late baby, I'll see you tonight." She walked past him, but he reached for her waist. I felt her heart rate spike and I realized it was not appropriate for me to be here at this moment. She had butterflies fling into her stomach and I recognized this emotion as nervous lust— it would be best for me to leave.

I let out a deep breath, grimacing at my reflection as the pale girl stared right back at me. I wasn't older than twenty, I had a regular life, quite boring actually. But, I spent my free time, and any second when the sun was up and I was bored, body-hopping. It was strange at first, realizing that I could just become a completely different person with the blink of an eye, but what was weirder was that I couldn't interact with them or I would get sent back to my body. If I tried to interact with the body I shared for the day, I would never be able to see them again. At least, not as them.

I stood up and went to brush my teeth, and then I walked to the small kitchen of my old apartment and made myself a cup of coffee. Perhaps if I lived like Mia, then I could be happier. Fake it until you make it, I suppose that motto would last me a while.

I drank the coffee slowly. It was hot and scorched the inside of my mouth and tasted ten times worse than the one that Mia had had. I tried brushing my teeth, then drinking it, but that didn't really help with the flavor.

It was already nine in the morning, meaning I didn't have much time before the winter sun would set around five. I put the cup in the sink and washed it. I had no classes on Monday, which meant I was free to do whatever the hell I wanted.

Imitation has always been the greatest form of flattery, and although Mia didn't know it, I had copied every single action she had done this morning. I turned to the small beanbag chair in my living room. I didn't have much furniture. My entire apartment consisted of two bean bag chairs, my laptop, a small table and seat and my bed. The walls were cracked and the paint was peeling, and I didn't exactly care. I was rarely here anyway.

I rested my body on the beanbag chair before taking a deep breath.

And I was back— but now Mia had gotten in a car accident and I couldn't see anything out of her eyes. I felt her immense pain, her leg had gotten trapped and she was crying.

I gasped loudly. Not again. Not this again. Out of the hundreds of bodies I'd occupied over the last four years, none had made me feel pain as immense as my mother— and now Mia.

"Mia, you'll be okay! I promise." I said to her mind. And before I could see her reaction; I was ripped away and thrown back to my body, worrying about a stranger that I knew I would never see again.

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