Shannon sat back with a sigh, her feet propped up on a spare chair as she picked at her salad. The break room was quiet, and she savored the rare moment of peace. Melanie was seated across from her, munching on a sandwich and flipping through a magazine, both of them enjoying the silence after a busy morning.

“So,” Melanie began, taking a swig from her

water bottle. “Are you still coming to the beach with me this weekend?”

Shannon snorted. “You mean after this week? Absolutely. I need a few days of sunshine and sand before I lose my mind.”

Melanie chuckled. “I’ll bring the SPF 100 for you.”

Shannon rolled her eyes. “Hey, just because I’ve got the skin of a porcelain doll doesn’t mean I want to burn like one.”

They both laughed, and then settled into silence again, the comfortable kind that only came from years of friendship. Melanie toyed with her sandwich wrapper for a moment, seeming hesitant. Shannon noticed and raised an eyebrow.

“What’s on your mind, Mel?” Shannon asked, taking another bite of her salad.

Melanie looked up, her face softening. “I was just thinking... do you ever hear from Sofie anymore?”

The question was met with a clatter as Shannon’s fork slipped from her fingers, hitting the plastic container. Her eyes narrowed, and she folded her arms, leaning back in her chair. “Why would you bring her up? After what she did, I don’t see how you could still think about her.”

Melanie shifted uncomfortably. “I know, I know... But she wasn’t all bad. I mean, I loved her, she was—”

“She was insane,” Shannon interrupted, her voice a mix of anger and something else—a lingering hurt. “That whole situation was messed up. I don’t see how you can look back and say she was anything but toxic.”

Melanie sighed, putting her sandwich down. “I just... I don’t know. Maybe I’m trying to understand what went wrong, you know? She was my friend, too.”

Shannon shook her head, her gaze dropping to the floor as memories began to resurface. “It’s hard to forget. She changed you forever, and you still act like she was just some friend who messed up. You really don’t remember?”

Flashback – Two Years Ago

The sharp hum of the transformation machine faded into the background as Shannon and Sofie sat back, relaxing after another morning session. Sofie popped a bubble with her gum, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

“I can’t believe we just did that,” Sofie said, her voice still full of laughter. “Did you see his face when he realized he was turning into a little girl?”

Shannon chuckled, tossing the used gloves into the bin. “Oh yeah, that lisp was priceless. A grown man reduced to a three-year-old girl who can barely speak. I thought he was going to cry harder than any of our other clients.”

Sofie clapped her hands together in mock sympathy. “Poor thing, she’s going to have to learn how to color inside the lines and everything.”

Shannon grinned. “Well, maybe next time we give them crayons as a parting gift.”

They shared a laugh, their camaraderie built over months of working closely together in the transformation facility. Though their job could be intense, moments like these broke the tension. It was easy to joke after clients had been reshaped and sent off into new lives, and Sofie’s dark sense of humor always matched Shannon’s dry wit.

Sofie fiddled with the machine, prepping it for the next session. But as she moved, Shannon noticed that her usual confidence was absent. There was a nervous energy in Sofie’s movements, her hands shaky as she adjusted the settings.

Shannon frowned. “Sofie, what’s up with you today? You’re jittery. Did you have too much coffee?”

Sofie bit her lip, glancing toward the door. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Shannon didn’t buy it. She was about to press for more when the door opened, and Anna wheeled in their next client. Shannon froze, her stomach dropping as she recognized the man on the gurney.

“Matthew?” Shannon whispered, her eyes darting between him and Sofie.

Matthew’s eyes were wide with confusion, his wrists and ankles bound to the gurney. He blinked, his head turning slowly toward Sofie. “S-Sofie? What’s going on? Why am I here?”

Sofie’s demeanor shifted in an instant, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. “Hello, Matthew. Surprised to see me?”

Matthew looked around the room, clearly disoriented. “Where... where am I? What is this place?” His gaze shifted to Shannon, recognition flickering in his eyes. “Shannon? What are you doing here? You work with Sofie?”

Shannon’s mind raced, torn between her instinct to help Matthew and the looming realization of what Sofie had planned. “Matthew... I think you need to stay calm.”

Matthew looked back at Sofie, his confusion deepening. “Sofie, what’s happening? Why am I strapped down?”

Sofie crossed her arms, her voice cold. “Oh, I think you know exactly why you’re here, Matthew. I’ve had plenty of time to think about it.”

“What are you talking about?” Matthew asked, his voice rising. “What is this?”

Shannon shot a glance at Sofie, her heart pounding. “Sofie, we need to stop and think about this. He doesn’t seem to know what’s going on.”

But Sofie stepped forward, ignoring Shannon’s plea. “Matthew, I know. I know you’ve been lying to me. Cheating on me. You think I’m stupid? That I wouldn’t find out?”

Matthew’s face paled, his eyes widening in shock. “What? No! I never—Sofie, I love you! I’ve never cheated on you. You’ve got to believe me.”

Sofie’s laugh was cold and bitter, echoing off the sterile walls. “Oh, don’t give me that. I’ve seen the texts, the calls. I know everything. You’re just too much of a coward to admit it.”

Shannon’s eyes flicked between the two, tension tightening her throat. She stepped closer to Sofie, lowering her voice. “Sofie, listen to him. He doesn’t sound like he’s lying.”

But Sofie wasn’t listening. She was too far gone, consumed by her anger. She leaned over Matthew, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity. “Go on, Matthew. Admit it. Admit you’ve been screwing around behind my back.”

Matthew shook his head, tears forming in his eyes. “Sofie, no. I haven’t done anything. I swear. I love you. Please, just listen to me!”

Sofie’s fists clenched at her sides, her face twisted with rage. “Why won’t you admit it? Just say it! Say you cheated!”

Matthew’s voice cracked as he continued to protest. “Sofie, I haven’t. I would never do that to you. Please, just stop!”

Shannon grabbed Sofie’s arm, her voice firm. “Sofie, don’t do this. You’re about to cross a line you can’t come back from.”

But before Shannon could stop her, Sofie’s hand slammed down on the machine’s activation button. The machine whirred to life, the pink light washing over Matthew’s body as he began to transform.

“No!” Shannon shouted, but it was too late.

Matthew’s body shuddered as the changes began. His muscles softened, his broad shoulders narrowing as his chest began to swell into soft, delicate curves. His jawline softened, his Adam’s apple disappearing as his voice became higher, more feminine. His legs slimmed, his hips widening as his frame reshaped into that of a woman.

Matthew’s expression shifted from confusion to horror as he realized what was happening. “W-What’s going on? Why... why am I—”

He gasped as his hands became smaller, more graceful, his fingers trembling. His voice cracked, higher and lighter than before. “S-Sofie... what did you do to me?”

Shannon’s heart sank as she watched Matthew—now Melanie—struggle to comprehend what had happened. Melanie’s once masculine features were gone, replaced with a beautiful, delicate woman’s face. Her long hair cascaded down her back, her soft, frightened eyes darting between Shannon and Sofie.

Sofie smirked, clearly pleased with herself. “There you go, Matthew. Or should I say... Melanie? A fitting punishment for a liar and a cheat.”

Shannon shook her head, fury bubbling up inside her. “Sofie, you’ve gone too far. You didn’t even let him defend himself. You just... assumed.”

Sofie’s satisfaction began to wane as security arrived, grabbing her by the arms. She struggled against them, screaming. “He deserved it! He lied to me!”

As they dragged Sofie toward the door, Shannon stepped forward, her voice cold. “Sofie, you’ve taken a good man out of the world, and you don’t even realize what you’ve done. But don’t worry—you’ll get your turn.”

Sofie glared back at Shannon, her voice full of venom. “You think you can threaten me? After everything we’ve been through?”

Shannon’s eyes narrowed, her tone dripping with dark implication. “Oh, I’m not threatening you, Sofie. I’m just making sure you understand what’s coming. Let’s just say... you might want to get used to playing in the dirt. It’s a fitting place for a little... man like you.”

Sofie’s face twisted in confusion, but the fear in her eyes was unmistakable. As she was dragged away, Shannon turned to Melanie, who had crumpled into a corner, sobbing.

Shannon knelt down beside her, her voice softening. “Melanie... I’m so sorry. None of this should have happened.”

Melanie looked up, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t understand... I didn’t do anything wrong. Why would she—”

Shannon placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I know, Melanie. I know. You didn’t deserve this. But I’m here, and I’ll make sure you’re okay. We’ll figure this out together.”

---

Back to the Present

Shannon took a deep breath, her eyes focused on the table in front of her. She could still feel the weight of that day, the betrayal of her former friend, and the responsibility she felt for Melanie’s new life.

Melanie, sitting across from her, smiled softly. “You know, Shannon, you didn’t have to take care of me after all of that. But you did. And I’ll always be grateful.”

Shannon shrugged, trying to brush off the sentiment. “You deserved better, Melanie. And I wasn’t going to let you suffer alone. You’ve made a great life for yourself here, and I’m proud of you.”

Melanie’s smile grew. “Funny thing is, being a woman... it suits me. I didn’t expect it to, but I think I’m happier now than I ever was as Matthew. You helped me find that.”

Shannon reached across the table, squeezing Melanie’s hand. “And you’ll always have me here, no matter what.”

Anna poked her head into the break room, holding up a clipboard. “Afternoon queue’s ready when you are.”

Shannon sighed, glancing at the clock. “Guess it’s time to get back to work.”

Melanie stood up, stretching. “Ready for another round?”

Shannon grinned, standing as well. “Let’s go. I think I’m in the mood to turn someone into a kindergarten teacher

today.”

They shared a laugh, walking side by side as they prepared for the next set of transformations. The bond they shared was unbreakable, forged through shared experiences and mutual loyalty. As they stepped into the transformation room, they knew they could face whatever the afternoon had in store—together.