The Boy Who Shared His Head

As sunlight dimly pierced the gloomy cityscape, 8-year-old Jason found himself striding down the narrow streets, his heart beating furiously with excitement. This was the first time his 26-year-old mother had consented to let him venture into the city alone. Giddy with this newfound independence and the prospect of buying a candy bar, his feet somehow found their way to the town grocery store. On his way back, however, the excitement began to wane as he spotted Kendra, a 34-year-old woman with fire-red hair, approaching him. The city had hardened her, recently turning her into a hooker. But Jason only saw a thin, worn-out woman in scanty clothes with a smoking habit that betrayed her hard life. Kendra held out her hand, not in greed, but in a desperate plea for money to buy her next meal. Jason, a tender heart hidden beneath a touch exterior, felt a pang of sympathy. Having spent all his money on the candy bar, the young boy offered it to Kendra instead. Kendra smile was as soft as the wind, her gratitude seeping into her words as she declared how sweet the boy was. She embraced Jason, pulling him into a hug and in that moment, her life as a hooker collided with Jason's innocence. Pulling back from the hug, Jason blinked in surprise, the world spinning around him. His view shifted as he suddenly found himself several feet taller. Staring down at himself, he noticed the same scanty clothes Kendra had worn, the cigarette, a purse and the fiery red hair falling over his shoulders. Kendra's voice echoed from his lips as he mumbled about the cold. Confusion peaked within Jason as he discarded the cigarette, the smell making his stomach churn. Trying to adjust to this drastic switch, he tried to resist the dramatic change. He rushed over to Kendra, the surprise etched on his face only mirrored by Kendra's amusement at his perplexity. Kendra laughed, assuring him that the body-switch was her own choice. However, Jason could only feel a growing sense of panic, the hooker's life looming over him like a cruel joke. Soon, his memories blurred, gradually shifting and merging with Kendra's until he could only remember life lived as Kendra, the hooker. His hands found the discarded platform sandals and purse. Resembling a woman more than ever, Kendra’s words echoed from his mouth, an odd mixture of panic and familiarity clutching at him. Kendra – the new Kendra – ran over to her belongings, slipping on the heels and sifting through the purse. A wave of relief washed over her as she found the money untouched. A sense of control wrapped around her as she struck a match and lit up a cigarette: her life under her control again. Determined to avoid mishaps, she muttered to herself, her heart still homesick for the sweet simplicity of her previous life. As she strode back, her hips swaying with each step, she found her old rhythm. At last, she stood in her place, shouting at passing cars, the persona of the 26-year-old hooker back in action. In the shadows, the real Kendra watched, a soft smile playing on her lips. She might have given up a grown-up life, but in exchange, she had gained a sweet childhood far away from the streets. But as for Jason, he was left to live a life he never signed up for, his innocence traded for Kendra's battle-worn existence.