Together (Possession Story)

Just to get me back into the swing of writing, I've written something different. With this story, imagine one person who their memories and anothers in their head and how that would effect who they are. 

Together.

Sitting up in my hospital bed, I try and calm the storm in my mind by listening to the rhythmic beeping of the machine monitoring my vitals.

Holding my hands in front of my eyes, I gaze at the dainty fingers with the bright pink nails. Still so confused—I can’t shake the feeling that these hands aren’t mine!

If they aren’t mine—why are they attached to me? Why am I in control of them?

“Excuse me…miss?” a voice says from the corner of my room, causing me to look up.

“We’ve gone over this,” I hiss, glaring at the nurse standing in the doorway. “Don’t call me a miss—that just doesn’t sit right with me.”

Giving me the most uncomfortable smile, she steps forward and places a plate of food on the bedside table.

“Doctor says you need to eat something.” The nurse tells me, taking a step back. “Your body has been through some trauma, and you need to keep up my strength.

“I’m no miss! I think my name is Neil!” I plea, asking again for the nurse to help me. “Please help me! I don’t know how I got here! I don’t know why I’m being kept here!”

The nurse's face drops—she looks terrified with the questions I’m answering. It just adds to my confusion! Why does no one want to explain what's happening to me and why my body feels so….different!

“Please calm down!” the nurse says nervously, backing away from me with her hands up.

“I am calm,” I reply, narrowing my eyes. “Please, just explain what's happening to me? Why am I being kept here?”

The nurse backs up into the doorway and looks back to ensure her exit. As she steps out into the hallway, she looks directly at me.

“We are worried about your mental health,” she says. “Please just be patient until the brain specialist arrives.”

“Specialist!?” I ask, shouting as the nurse disappears around the corner. “What do I need a specialist for my brain!?”

There is no answer, and I’m left alone with only my spiraling thoughts and the rhymic beeping once again.

I can’t quantify it and can’t make sense of my thoughts or feelings. Everything feels off and wrong and just wholly bizarre.

I don’t understand what my senses are telling me.

I don’t even remember my voice sounding like this! My hair shouldn’t be long like this either!

Even my gender—it seems wrong! I don’t remember being a woman. I distinctly remember being a man, but I just can’t understand why!

That just can’t be right!? How can I be a man when I’m clearly a woman!?

Staring blankly at the sad-looking plate of food in front of me, I know I have to understand what's happening.

“My first kiss,” I whisper, looking down again at the hands that feel and look so foreign.

Closing my eyes tight, I try to relive those awkward teenage moments. Flashes of faces and locations race across my mind.

“Cindy,” I say, remembering a face. “No…wait, It’s was John.”

Which one is it!? My mind is a complete jumble!

“Argh!” I groan, shaking my head and long hair profusely! “Did I kiss both!? That just can’t be!”

Putting my head into my hands, I scream into them

“My name is Neil!” I sob, allowing the tears to dribble from my eyes. “Not Sarah!”

Sobbing into my hands, a gentle knock on the doorframe of the room makes me jump.

As I look up and focus through my water-soaked eyes, I see the form of a young woman. As she steps closer to me on the bed, I start to recognize her face.

“Jess?” I ask, sniffing back.

“That’s a relief,” Jess says, tucking hair behind her ear. “I’m glad you’re awake. I’d heard you’d had a knock to the head,” she laughs nervously.

Opening my eyes wide, I glare at her skirt wafts as she walks.

“Who….,” I say, narrowing my eyes to focus on her face. “Are we friends?”

“Sarah!” she complains, placing a hand on her hip as her bag falls to the floor. “What on earth do you mean?”

Pain washes over me as I try to remember. Is that my actual name? Am I really this, Sarah!?

“Wow,” Jess continues as I look away. “You’ve done a number on yourself this time, huh?”

I look back at her, confused. What does she mean by that!?

“A number…?” I mumble, touching my forehead with my hands. “Did I do this to myself?” I question.

Jess then pulls up a nearby chair. Sitting down gently, she reaches for my hand and softly comforts me.

“Do you remember how you got here?” she asks, looking at me intently.

I don’t! The last thing I remember was looking into my bathroom mirror. But that memory can’t be correct!? When I think about it, I see a man's reflection looking back at me.

“I-I-I…,”

“It’s ok, Sarah,” she says softly, interrupting my mumbles.

She gently smiles, and her kindness brings a tear to my eyes. Not a single person here has spent more than two minutes with me.

“I don’t remember,” I sigh as she squeezes my hand tight. “That’s not the craziest thing,” I continue.

“Oh,” Jess responds, still holding my hand tight. “Tell me.”

Wiping tears from my eyes, I look deep into her steely blue eyes.

“This is going to sound nuts,” I anxiously laugh. “I…err….don’t think this is my body.”

Jess recoils back away from me and scoffs.

“What are you saying?” she nervously laughs, throwing a hand in disgregard.

I shouldn’t be surprised by her reaction. All the doctors and nurses I’ve told have acted similarly. Why did I think she would be any different?

“I’m not really sure,” I reply, feeling my cheeks go bright red. “I just….don’t feel like me.”

Scoffing again, she makes me feel stupid.

“Come on, Sarah,” she grumbles, taking her hand off mine. “You remembered me—so how can you not be you?”

That’s true. I did know Jess’s name as soon as I saw her. Maybe I am just going a little crazy. Perhaps I am actually this woman.

“Do you remember that time when we….?” Sarah asks, almost whispering.

She stops, and I watch her face go bright red.

“That time…?” I ask, super curious as to why it’s made Jess go all shy.

She looks around the hospital room before leaning in towards me.

“That time…,” she whispers, looking around again. “That time, we…experimented together. Do you remember?”

Narrowing my eyes and gawking at Jess, my mind does flash memories past my eyes. As I remember, my mouth drops

“Jesus!” I squeal, putting my hand over my mouth. “You….,” I say, pointing down between my legs.

The sting of embarrassment also washes over my face as I remember what we did that night. I look over at Jess, and we giggle as we catch eye contact.

“There's, my Sarah,” Jess chuckles, touching my hand.

As I go to clutch her hand in return, my smile instantly falls away as more vivid memories flood my mind. Staring past Jess at the wall behind her, I relive them as if they happened moments ago.

“Sarah…?” Jess asks, putting herself into my line of view.

Shaking my head, I close my eyes tight.

“What's the matter?” she asks.

I keep my eyes closed and try and think the memories away. What I’m seeing and remembering just can’t be right!

“I-I….,” I mumble, throwing my hands over my eyes. “I also remember making love…..as m-man.”

“Don’t be silly,” Sarah gripes, leaning back as the chair she sits in squeaks.

I close my eyes tighter and try my best to remember more about the night Jess and I spent together. It’s no use, and I can only remember this night with this girl. I remember so vividly her screaming with pleasure.

“I’m not!” I cry out! “I’m so confused!”

“Ok, Sarah—calm down!” Sarah replies.

“NO!” I shout, gritting my teeth tight and shouting into my hands that still cover my face. “I remember being a man. I’m a man!”

Sarah quickly gets up, and the chair legs squeal against the floor. I quickly look up to see her backing away from the bed, and she looks frightened.

“J-jess…?” I say, feeling the tears welling behind my eyes.

Sarah looks back to the door. Clearly looking to escape.

“I….t-think you need some time to rest,” she replies, giving me a nervous-looking smile.

“Please don’t leave me here!” I cry, holding my hand out to her. “I’m scared of what's happening to me!”

“I’m gonna go have a w-word with the doctor,” Sarah says, still backing up. “Don’t worry, Sarah.”

Giving me a wry smile, she zips through the door to my room and quickly disappears from my sight. I close my eyes tight and sob.

What the actual fuck is happening to me!?

I close my eyes and try to think about the last thing I remember. Tears roll down my face as I scrunch my face.

It’s hazy, but I remember a restaurant and feeling nervous. Like I’m on a date.

I see a girl's face sitting across from me, but I also see a smartly dressed man.

“ARGH!” I groan, smacking my forehead. “Why can’t I think straight!”