Mutually Beneficial

Angela and Marc became friends on their first day at college. Angela cried on Marc’s shoulder when her long distance high school boyfriend dumped her. Marc confided in Angela that he was closeted and gay. For a time, Angela agreed to be Marc’s beard in a mutually beneficial relationship.

By the time senior year rolled around, Angela was angered by how all the internships she had treated the men better than her; Marc confessed that he was actually trans. Angela hatched a plan.

She spent a few late nights studying in the Physics Building. After about a week, no one even blinked when she was the last one there. Then she let Marc in through a back exit, and the two snuck down in to the basement lab. The two helmets on the body swap machine were dusty and mothballed. It had been abandoned due to “ethical concerns” but not demolished. They both hoped it still worked.

The next day, Angela and Marc saw each other and smiled.

“It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” Marc said with a smile from Angela’s body, “I’ve been loving every second since last night.”

Angela returned the smile, “It’s going to take some getting used to, but I’m sure it will be worth it. I already feel people look up to more as a male.”

“That’s just because my old body is taller!” Marc joked before assuring Angela that the bias was real.