A Twist of Destiny: Transformation and Empathy on the Streets

Once upon a time in a bustling city, a 13-year-old bonny blonde-blue-eyed girl named May was on her way to the local store. She had a delightful innocence about her, and her kindness was as radiant as her golden hair. Dressed in her favored overalls, a headband, and pink shoes, she was an emblem of springtime youth. Her 34-year-old mother had given her some money to pick up some groceries. As she gathered what she wanted and left the store, she was stopped by a 33-year-old homeless woman named Sandra, also known as "Small Size." Sandra had been living on the streets for 15 years, her black hair a stark contrast to her brown eyes. She wore a black glittery tank top, short shorts, and leather wedges, and slung her purse over her shoulder. "Do you have any more money, sweetie?" Sandra asked, her voice heavy with the burden of her struggles. "Here you go, miss. Hope it helps," May replied kindly, handing Sandra a few spare coins. "One more thing. I just found these wedges and wanna see how they look on someone else. Can you try them on?" Sandra asked. In a bubble of naivety, May obliged and took off her pink shoes, slipping her tiny feet into the slightly too small wedges. As she was about to speak, May noticed a startling change. Sandra was turning into her! Before she knew what was happening, her clothes evaporated, disappearing into thin air. Her petite feet began to shrink and age, fitting uncomfortably into the wedges, while her legs, arms, and chest matured into those of a grown woman. Simultaneously, mounds appeared on her chest, and a black tank top and short shorts formed on her unfamiliar body. Her face morphed into Sandra's as she acquired her black hair, brown eyes, and matured vocal pitch. "What did you do?" May protested, terror in her eyes, "I was so nice to you. This isn't fair!" But as Sandra, in her new body, pressed the purse onto May's transformed shoulder, May's recent memories faded. Her sentence was cut off, mutating into, "But no please... please, if you have just a few more dollars that would be great. I'm sorry for asking, but I don't come across money on these streets very often." As if wearing May's body offered new compassion, Sandra gently asked, "It's okay, ma'am. What's your name?" "My name is Sandra, and I'm 33 years old. Don't be as stupid as me. It's so sad not having a bed to sleep in" May replied, completely convinced of her new identity as Sandra, before walking away solemnly. In her new youth, Sandra scoped her reflection in a nearby mirror, adjusting her purse. Holding back tears, she strutted to a nearby corner store, asking for some cigarettes. A familiar alleyway offered her respite from prying eyes. Setting her purse on the ground, she unintentionally stepped into a small puddle, soaking her foot. "Ew! I hope that was water. It's so dark and so cold out. I hate being fucking homeless," she vented to the moon, "Women should never have to be stuck on the street. We're so vulnerable, and I'm all alone. 15 fucking years on these streets." Emotions overcame her, and she sobbed into the cold night, unnecessarily cursing her fate as a homeless woman. She had no memory of the kind-hearted 13-year-old May. Drifting off to sleep, she was oblivious to the great switch that had occurred.