Crossing the City at Night

Once upon a time, in the hustle and bustle of night-time Mexico City, an eight-year-old boy named Benjamin was bravely attempting his first solo journey home, carrying his mom's permission in his heart like a badge of honor. The twinkle of city lights reflected in his wide, anxious eyes as he navigated the labyrinthine streets. Determination fueled his little legs, excited at the prospect of regaling his family with stories of his daunting adventure. Across town, outside the rhythmic pulsing of a popular club, a 27-year-old Mexican woman, Giselle, was stationed, awaiting her evening of fun. Raven-haired, with chocolate hued eyes piercing through the night, her vibrant presence was undeniable. Giselle’s face bore the mark of a lip piercing, a brow ring, and hoop earrings, all glimmering in the neon lights. The short tan dress she wore showed off her long, fake-red-nailed fingers and her matching tan low platform sandals, paired with the tan purse on her shoulder, unified her striking appearance. Glancing at her friends, Melissa and Claudia, Giselle proclaimed, "Come on ladies, emborrachémonos y follemos a un grupo de hombres esta noche a quienes les importan un carajo las consecuencias. ¡Ay! ¡Ay!" Her infectious laughter echoed through the busy street before the sight of the small boy captured her attention. She watched as Benjamin nervously moved along the opposite sidewalk. One of her friends, squinting towards him, called out, "Hey mijo, you lost or something? What you doing out here alone? Es de noche." Pausing for a moment, Benjamin replied in a small voice, "Mommy said I could. I really gotta get home. They might get worried about me." Concern tugged at Giselle's heart, prompting her to reach out to Benjamin. "No, cariño, acércate a ella ahora mismo," pulling him gently towards her. A sudden jolt coursed through Benjamin's little body, his vision darkening in an unexpected blackout. As Benjamin regained his composure, a strange sensation engulfed his being. His eyes fluttered open as a voice shrieked, "Let me go! Mommy's gonna be worried about me!" This startled Benjamin; it was not his voice. As he tried to move, he stumbled upon cascades of long black hair that had mysteriously appeared before him, and his body felt disoriented. Suddenly, Claudia gasped, "Giselle? You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost! Ni siquiera hemos comenzado la fiesta todavía y ya parece que llevas 10 tragos" Confusion set in stronger as he realized the woman was addressing him. Looking down, he was taken aback by the sight of the tan dress clinging to his figure, and two distinctly feminine forms beneath it that he misinterpreted as something else. His hands tried to pull at them, only to realize their realness startled him. Puzzled, he gazed down at his feet gracefully adorned with platform sandals and his fingers, now graced with alien long, manicured nails. Disgusted at his darker, unfamiliar hands and feet, he shed the purse from his shoulder as the gravitas of his predicament dawned on him. Melissa, perplexed and worried, queried, "What is the matter with you, Giselle? Ever since you gripped that kid's hand, you're acting like you don't know what's happening". The terror-stricken Benjamin whimpered out, "I'm dreaming! This is a dream! I'm scared!" His voice was distinctly feminine, threaded with a distinct accent. His body convulsed in suppressed sobs leaving Giselle's friends taken aback by his uncharacteristic behavior. But then an unexpected glimmer of hope shone for Benjamin as he spotted his old body stumbling back towards him, but his hope was crushed as it declared, "I went the wrong way. Mommy's house is this way," promptly disappearing into the twilight once again. Collapsing on the pavement, Benjamin sank to the ground, removing the platform sandals before scrambling to his feet. He ran until he found a mirror, a cruel reflection of a nightmare staring back, his youthful innocence eerily glistening through the sophisticated dark eyes of the older woman he had become. He beheld the lip and eyebrow piercings and the hoop earrings, as well as the red-nail-polished hands and feet he was trapped in. Taking in his new reality, Benjamin sobbed, "I didn't do anything wrong! I just wanted to show mommy I was a big boy! I'm gonna miss grandma and grandpa so much! And my doggy! I'm never gonna see him again." Giselle's worried friends found him once again. One of them carefully putting the sandals back on his feet and the purse on his shoulder. "Sorry girl, but I'm not about to let you ruin that pedicure and nail job you spent so much money on. You're the finest bitch I've ever seen, and I don't know why you're crying when you can have any guy you want. Let's go back to the club and get drunk and get your mind off whatever's bothering you," Melissa declared pulling Benjamin closer. The club was daunting, and the alien sensation of walking in heels was challenging, but Benjamin adapted in rhythmic increments swiftly. As his new female voice hitched with terrified sobs, his heart pounded hard in his chest marred by fear and confusion. Tears slipped unchecked as he wondered if this was all a bad dream, a temporary nightmare. But the bitterly cruel and surreal reality was the young boy named Benjamin was trapped in the body of Giselle, forever, while his family waited at home, oblivious and anticipating a reunion that had slipped grimly out of reach.