**A Fateful Change**

**Tommy's Unexpected Journey** Eight-year-old Tommy Everett was a cheerful little boy with boundless energy and curiosity. Born on April 3, 2015, Tommy stood at 4 feet 2 inches and weighed 55 pounds. He was a typical white child with shaggy brown hair that often flopped into his bright blue eyes. His mother, Lily Everett, was a youthful 25-year-old who stood at 5 feet 4 inches and weighed 130 pounds. Born on September 14, 1998, Lily had long blonde hair that cascaded down her back in loose waves and green eyes that sparkled with both vitality and wisdom beyond her years. Tommy's father, Jake Everett, was a 26-year-old construction worker with a sturdy build, standing at 6 feet even and weighing 180 pounds. Born on March 22, 1997, Jake had short brown hair that matched his son's and serious blue eyes, often softened by a warm smile. One sunny afternoon, Tommy was at home doing one of his favorite activities: building an elaborate LEGO spaceship on the living room floor. He was entirely absorbed in his project, tongue sticking out slightly as he made minute adjustments to his creation. The TV played softly in the background, filling the room with comforting noise. Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over Tommy. It was as if something unseen had brushed against his spirit, causing him to shiver involuntarily. His heart pounded in his tiny chest, and he felt a rising panic. Without any warning, Tommy felt his spirit being wrenched from his body, speeding off in a random direction so fast that the world around him blurred. Tommy’s spirit hurtled through space and time until it slammed into another body with such force that he was disoriented. Dazed, he tried to make sense of his surroundings but was overwhelmed by the awkwardness of the new body he found himself in. He looked down and to his shock, he realized he was now in the body of a girl. Her name was Emily Sanders, a 17-year-old girl born on January 10, 2006. Emily stood at 5 feet 6 inches and weighed around 120 pounds. She had long, straight blonde hair that fell to the middle of her back and striking blue eyes. A native of California, she was dressed in a summery outfit: a short, pink floral dress with a fitted bodice and flared skirt, paired with white sandals that were adorned with delicate straps. Her outfit was completed with a white purse hanging from her shoulder, and she wore a silver necklace and earrings. Emily was walking down the busy streets with her friends: Jessica, Olivia, and her younger cousin, Lily. Jessica, Olivia, and Emily were each 17 years old like her but Emily was the oldest among them. Lily, though younger at 16, was Emily's confidante and partner in crime. As they chattered about their upcoming summer plans, Tommy—now Emily—was trying to make sense of his new reality. “Emily, you’ve got to try this new lip gloss I got!” Lily exclaimed, clearly not noticing anything was amiss. "Sure, Lily," Emily's voice responded automatically, though Tommy’s consciousness was screaming in confusion. He felt weighted down by the purse on his shoulder, the delicate jewelry around his neck and wrists foreign and uncomfortable. "Emily," Jessica said, "are you coming to the beach party tomorrow?" They called her "Em" sometimes, a name that felt alien on Tommy’s ears although oddly familiar in their tone. Tommy tried to speak but what came out was startlingly bratty and aggressive, "I already told you guys, I’m not really interested in that lame party." This wasn’t what he wanted to say, but the words tumbled out regardless, dripping with teenage cynicism. Lily asked sweetly, "Em, can I borrow your pink nail polish?" Instead of a simple yes or no, Tommy felt the bratty response forming and fighting to come out. "Ugh, no, I said no, quit asking me like you’re so dependent." The words felt spiteful and wrong, but he couldn’t control them. He even brushed Lily's hand away aggressively, nudging her aside as they kept walking. None of the girls seemed surprised, clearly used to this side of Emily. Tommy, on the other hand, was horrified. In an awkward attempt to cope, he fussed with Emily’s dress, twirling the hem and pulling out her purse, rummaging through it and showing off the various makeup items and accessories inside. He even fixed her hair in an exaggerated manner, showing off for no apparent reason. Feeling increasingly flustered as this foreign persona continued to dominate, Tommy—while still Emily—walked far away from her friends. He wandered aimlessly until he found himself near a shop window. The reflection staring back at him was undeniably Emily’s; the blonde hair, the blue eyes, and the girlish attire. He slipped out of Emily’s sandals, seeing her dainty female feet and toes peeking out from beneath the hem of her dress. “I’m going to miss mommy and grandma and everybody so much,” he wanted to cry out. Instead, the words emerged as a complaint, dripping with teenage indignation, “I can’t believe I have to deal with this boyfriend drama all summer!” His eyes welled up with tears as he pulled the ID from Emily’s purse. His heart sank seeing her birthdate: January 10, 2006. Their worlds were further apart than he had ever imagined. His heartbeat quickened, and he whispered, “I don’t wanna be older than myself and my friend, I want my mommy and daddy.” Yet, what came out was a different plea, “Ugh, I don’t need this stress! Why does everything have to be so difficult with guys?” Tommy—now Emily forever—was trapped, longing for the life he once knew. The realization that his spirit had permanently swapped bodies due to some bizarre cosmic anomaly hit him hard. His young heart, now encased in this teenage girl’s form, ached for home while navigating the confusing terrain of Emily's seemingly bratty teenage world.