Chapter 2
I woke up lying in back in my hospital bed. I looked down at my chest and saw the outline of my breasts under the blanket. I started crying just as a nurse walked in.
“Oh my, are you in pain?” She asked as she rushed over to my side.
I shook my head no.
The nurse gave me a cup of water and had me take a few sips. She then asked’ “Why did you try to go to the bathroom?”
Haltingly I said, “I…I wanted to look in the mirror.” With a voice that was barely a whisper but was decidedly feminine.
“Well, you should have asked first. Then I could have helped you and been there when you passed out.” The nurse admonished.
“I…I’m s...sorry.” I said between sobs.
“What's wrong honey? What's got you upset?” The nurse asked with a concerned look.
“I’m…I…not...” I kept trying to say that I am not supposed to be a woman but nothing would come out. All of the words died in my throat! I kept trying to say different things until I was able to say. “I did not recognize the person in the mirror!”
“Oh, we were afraid that might be the case. The doctor said that amnesia might happen because of your injuries.” The nurse explained. “Well any day now we should hear from the police. We had them get your fingerprints so we could try to find out who you were.”
“The police?” I repeated.
“Yes, but I wouldn't worry if I were you. If you had a criminal record they would have notified us immediately. So the delay is because they have to do some digging for your identity.” She explained.
She then left to finish her rounds leaving me to my own thoughts. If only the nurse knew the truth that I was unable to speak! That I was a 30-year-old man in a young woman’s body! A body that I knew absolutely nothing about, not even a name. All that I knew was what my time looking in the mirror told me. I was young. High school looking young and I had better than average looks and build. I appeared to be about 5 foot 4 inches or so and weighed about 100 pounds.
A couple of days later I was allowed out of bed and the nurse on duty removed my catheter so I could go to the bathroom on my own. That was a disturbing situation all around. Between the pain of removing the tubing and going to the bathroom for the first time as a girl I was reduced to tears again.
When I was done with the bathroom I was weighed and I found out I weighed 110 and I was right when I estimated my height at 5’ 4”. They then had the doctor come in and remove my head bandage and IV. I stepped down from my bed and went into the bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror again. My hair was a dark auburn and cut short, only going down to the base of my neck and bangs in front. As a footnote I noticed it was an absolute tangled mess and that I had the faded remains of a large bruise on my right temple.
I left the bathroom in a daze. When the nurse saw me she handed me a brush and said, “Here you go! I thought you might appreciate this.”
I took the brush with a thank you and climbed back in to bed. When they left my room I tossed the brush on my bed and laid back down quietly crying.
I stared at the brush for a good ten minutes before I picked it back up and started brushing my tangled hair. Since my hair was so tangled brushing it was very painful. I vowed to make sure that it never got like that again for however long I possessed this body.
I was sleeping when the nurse entered my room and told me that the police had found out who I was and my parents had been notified of where I was and what condition I was in. The nurse handed me a police print out. I thanked her and started reading as the nurse left the room. “My” name was Colleen Douglas. I turned 18 just over a month ago on March 11th and was a senior in high school. I lived in Hampton, Virginia and had no criminal record. Well, that at least was a relief. I was afraid that Polly would make me a fugitive.
I was to the point that I was done crying about my predicament but I was still sullen and out of sorts about the whole situation and was watching the news on T.V. when there was a knock on the door. The doctor walked in to the room followed by a middle-aged couple.
“Hello Colleen. I have some people here that have been very worried about you. Here are your parents Mike and Susan.” The doctor said. “Now Mr. and Mrs. Douglas remember what I told you. Your daughter has almost complete amnesia and does not remember who you are or who she was.” He said before leaving us alone.
“Colleen…How are you doing?” My new mother asked as she sat on the edge of the bed and held my hand.
“Aside from only knowing who I am for a couple of hours now pretty good I guess.” I replied.
“Are you in pain?”
“No, I can’t even feel where I had the bruise on my forehead anymore. The doctor explained to me that I was in a coma for most of my healing.” I explained. “Why was I here in Detroit?” I asked.
“You were here to visit a friend. She..” ‘my’ Mom hesitated at that point and I figured out the rest.
“She died in the accident.” I finished her statement.
We spent the next couple of hours with the people who were now my parents. My Dad was a vice president of a software company and Mom was on the board of directors of a fashion design company.
After awhile Mom said, “We should probably leave and let you get some rest for the trip home tomorrow. The nurse said you would need new clothes so your Dad and I will go shopping for some tonight.” She then kissed me on the forehead and they both left.
That night I was anxious to check out of the hospital but I was nervous about living Colleen’s life. The only thing that kept the whole prospect from being terrifying was that I did not have to try and figure out how Colleen acted or know her friend since I had “amnesia”. After thinking about my situation I surmised that Polly’s spell must have put me in Colleen’s body after her accident. Colleen must have been brain dead leaving it open for me to be put in. Having no way to ask Polly I’ll have to just go with that explanation.
I decided that I would make that most of this “punishment” and start life as Colleen.