Dave stared into the mirror and took in the reflection “I’m so young” he thought immediately before a second thought crowded its way in “You are young” it overlapped the original voice in his head.

He shut his eyes and gripped the sink tightly “I wish I was back in my own body! I wish I was back in my own life! I wish I was me again!”

His head buzzed immediately, a wave of dizziness hit him passing through him and even making a wave of nausea rise up in his stomach “It’s going to…!” he opened his eyes.

“…Work?” he was still Aiden. The feelings passed quicker than they had come on. He tried to picture his wife’s face but it was fuzzy and vague. He saw Abbie Murphy clearly.

“Abbie?” he felt his stomach lift “I…oh…” he liked Abbie. A whole new rush of feelings swarmed over him. His initial thought about who he thought was attractive changed in his brain from Erin Nelson to Abbie Murphy. “I don’t even know what Mrs. Nelson’s maiden name was” he thought realizing he now could only think of her as Mrs. Nelson.

“Shit…I’d better not try that again…wishing only makes it worse” he told himself staring deep into the mirror, regarding what was now his own face “I might be here for a bit” he acknowledged.

He stood still and held his breath. His head swam again and he found he could recreate the feeling that he had experienced when he had transformed into Aiden. The feeling of shrinking, of diminishing.

Deep down, he wondered if he would ever get to feel it in reverse. To experience what Aiden must have felt when he grew and changed and took over his old body “I hope so” he said to the mirror before coming out.

Heather, Mom, was coming back inside as he came out of the bathroom.

“How was your visit with Mr. Nelson…did you two talk about sports?” his Mom laughed as she went to the fridge for some iced tea.

“Ha. Yeah no…but he did ask if I could help him out this summer. He’s going to do some work around his house and he said he needs an extra set of hands…something about how I’d just have to hold the drywall while he did everything else…I don’t know. He said he’d text you about it” Dave said.

“Oh…I’m sure that’ll be fine” his Mom replied as she padded barefoot around the kitchen “He’s actually a nice guy Aiden. I know you hated him as a teacher but he’s not bad”

“I know…” Dave shrugged.

“That’s not what you said all semester” she laughed.

It didn’t even bother Dave hearing it; somehow, he just knew it anyway. It felt exactly like something he would think and say.

“Well I don’t have to take his class again” he replied feeling natural and comfortable with his Mom. It wasn’t awkward talking to her in this capacity; he also knew he got farther with his Mom than his Dad who was a lot stricter with him.

He walked away to his room and stepped inside feeling that familiar sensation wash over him yet again. He grabbed his phone off his desk and responded to texts from his friends Liam and Michael. He also had a text from his 14 year old cousin Taylor.

He knew immediately that he and Taylor were close and shared a lot. He was closer to her than his own brother and if he had to pick anyone in the family to hang out with, it would be Taylor’s Dad, his Uncle Luke.

Uncle Luke took him to opening night showings of every Marvel and Star Wars movie. He was the one adult he actually trusted and felt like understood him as more and more thoughts of even being an adult simply slid away from him.

Aiden came inside after cleaning up the garage a bit. Moments from earlier played prominently in his mind. Seeing Dave shrink down in front of him, it was thrilling to him, exhilarating even. It made him excited and he felt a stirring inside.

He looked at Erin as she cooked dinner. Nothing was different in her mind, in her world it was just like it was when she had left. He was attracted to her, thought she was the sexiest woman he knew, he was in love with his wife. He felt no attraction to the girls he taught; he was actually repelled a bit. They were kids, off limits completely. He could acknowledge they were cute, but that was it; they were just cute kids but no attraction resided in him.

He walked up behind his wife and put his hands on her hips and kissed her neck.

She giggled and swayed a bit but also joked with him “You’re all sweaty and gross. You need to shower dude”

“On my way” Aiden replied as he left the room and walked upstairs to his bedroom and master bathroom.

“Oh wow” he said walking into the room for the first time, yet it also felt like the millionth time. He pressed his toes into the carpet as he looked at the king sized bed, matching nightstands and dressers and even a peek into the closet, all clearly laid out for two people. There were obvious clothing and items for both him and Erin.

Pictures of their daughter and pictures of their wedding and a few while on trips were set along the walls. “Matching everything…” he thought as he counted throw pillows.

He stripped down in the bathroom although all he had to take off her his shorts and boxers so with a quick push down, Aiden was naked.

He caught his reflection in the mirror “Whoa” he said. He couldn’t help but flex a bit and stare. He touched his hard muscles, he leaned in close examining his face. He ran his fingers through his hair and beard and move his cheeks, nose and eyes around “This is absolutely amazing” he said to his reflection. “I had no idea…” he began “I had no idea how nice this would feel. I feel great! Who would have thought that one, I could switch bodies and lives with Mr. Nelson and two, I would actually enjoy it this much. I can’t wait to be him”

Showering was interesting. Working a totally different body up and down and realizing that it was all yours now was mind blowing. All the while, random thoughts about how much had changed in his life flashed through his mind “I’m only 8 years younger than my Mom… I went from being born in 2002; all the way back to 1987!”

He dried off remembering things from the 90s. Aiden was relaxing. He was settling in. Things were already feeling comfortable and normal around him as he got dressed and went downstairs.

He went right to the floor and began to play with his daughter; laughing and giggling and playing dolls with a 2 year old was what he was looking forward to.

Erin came in and joined in. Lily was directing her parents on who their dolls were and what they should say and both played their parts so well. When the timer went off, they all got up and had dinner together.

As the evening came on, Aiden realized that his wife was going to watch The Bachelor and he retreated to the basement; his man cave.

He flipped on the Cardinals game like always. Aiden knew their roster inside and out “Wainwright is pitching tonight…going to be a tough matchup” he found himself saying.

The original Aiden part of his mind scratched closed “What did I just say? 5 hours ago I barely knew any baseball players; now I’m analyzing lineups?!”

He searched his mind for his old references; Star Wars movies were there but nothing more; same with Marvel. The only anime he could even think of was Sailor Moon and he knew he had never watched an episode, he just was aware of the character.

He was happy to see a PlayStation hooked up “At least one way to stay connected” he thought.

Curious, he turned it on and searched for his old screenname. He smirked when it came up and saw it was in use. Connecting, he put on his headset “Hey”

Dave had retreated to his bedroom; the only place in the world he could call his own and even then it didn’t have locks and his Mom walked in all the time; dropping off laundry, coming in to ask him a question, telling him it was time for dinner.

He pulled up his laptop and immediately typed in his favorite anime website. He logged in and picked up where he left off in the middle of episode three of JoJo’s bizarre adventure. He knew the plot, the characters, everything.

As he watched, he text back and forth falling into an easy rhythm with them, a familiar rapport and all the topics were forefront in his mind. Little things were falling into place already. At one point he got a strong flash of his old self “Look at yourself!” his mind screamed “This morning you woke up with a wife and kid, you are a grown ass man! You’re watching anime! You’re listening to a Mom! You lost your freedom…”

The second voice began to overlap the first “You gained your freedom! You have absolutely no responsibilities now! Bills…safety and security all taken care of. Everything is paid for by someone else. This is the best life possible. Sports, psst, who cares? Do you, be you, enjoy yourself”

Dave smirked and settled into his chair.

He ate a spaghetti dinner prepared by his Mom. His Dad was home from work and they didn’t say much to each other.

After dinner, his Dad took them all out for ice cream. He got in the backseat of the car with his brother, all thoughts of driving by himself were gone. Technically he could go after his license, but he lived close to school and all his friends so he just didn’t bother. A few of his friends were now driving so he caught rides from them.

He didn’t mind waiting to take his turn to order and was more than happy to not reach for a wallet to pay. In his mind, Dave became a bit younger, becoming more like the teenager he currently was. His mentality dropped, his immaturity rose.

Dave bumped into Cooper who shoved him back. He saw the look in his Dad’s eyes and he froze and dropped his eyes to the ground “Knock it off you two. Can’t you two behave in public for 2 seconds?”

Dave said nothing.

Cooper was trying to hold in laughter but Dave was genuinely ashamed and a bit intimidated.

The ice cream was great though even if it did fill him up much sooner than he was used to. One look at his very slender frame reminded him of his stomach capacity.

It was evening when they got home and his Mom reminded him it was his turn on the PlayStation. He hooked up and saw his old screenname waiting at the bottom listed as logged in. He heard his old voice come through his headphones and he jumped “Hey”

“Hey” Dave replied nervously.

“Another way for us to stay in touch” Aiden said “So how are you doing?”

“I…I’m doing good” He replied.

“You mean that?” Aiden replied.

“Yeah. I do. I’m…adjusting” Dave replied easing into the couch.

“So am I. It’s very strange but it also seems natural” Aiden answered.

“Like a dream almost” Dave admitted “I’m more you than me now. I can’t remember much about my time before. I think my mind and memory have adjusted and taken on yours”

“It makes sense. We need that kind of info if we’re going to pull off being the other” Aiden said.

“I just didn’t think it would be this complete, this fast” Dave said. He added in a whisper “I don’t remember, you know, knowing my wife at all”

Aiden closed his eyes; he did. “It’s okay…just relax. We will figure this out”

“Yeah”

They talked for a while before Aiden heard his wife calling for him “Gotta go”

Sure” Dave replied. He played for a bit longer and made his way upstairs. His parents were in bed. His brother was still up but in his own room. He grabbed a bag of chips and a glass of milk from the kitchen before he went to his room.

He texted and watched anime until 4 in the morning as his body clock adjusted to a teenaged boys’.

Aiden got off when Erin called him knowing it was Lily’s bedtime. He knew his part in the nightly routine that ended with the little girl fast asleep.

The married couple then retreated to their own room.

“Oh man I’m tired” Aiden said yawning and stretching.

“Tell me about it” Erin said taking off her top and padding into their bathroom. She casually unhooked her bra and set about brushing her teeth topless as they continued to talk.

Aiden had never seen a woman’s breasts and yet, had seen these ones every day for the past 7 years.

He was nonchalant and amazed and excited at the same time.

Aiden stripped down to his boxers and brushed his teeth as his wife casually used the toilet behind him and slipped off her shorts. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail and walked past ion just her panties to put on an oversized tee to sleep in.

He turned on the TV and put on a mindless HGTV show as they settled in. He realized his left hand was resting on her right thigh. She slipped her hand under his and he looked her way. With a look in her eye, he knew what it meant. He smiled and leaned forward kissing her on the lips.

She passionately kissed him back, her hands coming up on his back as his ran along her side. The shirt came back off as they rolled around. Before he knew it, he was getting a blow job.

He returned the favor before she climbed on top of him and rode him to climax.

After a quick cleanup, they were asleep in each other’s arms.

It was two weeks before Aiden texted Heather to see if it was a good day to get some help around the house from her son.

Dave had settled into a typical kid’s pattern for the summer. He stayed up late, slept in, avoided people in person preferring to text and watch stuff on his computer and play video games. He didn’t have a care in the world.

Luckily, he was up early this day as his Mom had gotten him up early for a haircut appointment.

Dave had sat in the chair feeling awkward as his Mom told the barber what to do. His ability to small talk had completely vanished so the barber talked with his Mom as he looked in the mirror or down at the apron over him.

“Hey Aiden” his Mom said “When we get home, Mr. Nelson needs some help. I guess he’s starting his drywall project”

“Ok” was all Dave said but his heart was beating faster as nerves awoke.

They ran to Target as Heather had to get some items and Dave walked around the store staring at his phone.

He headed over once they got home.

Aiden had the place to himself; his wife and daughter were at the zoo with his in-laws. He held up a friendly hand wave as he saw Dave walking over “God he’s so skinny” he thought “A stiff breeze would knock him over”

“Hey Mr. Nelson” Dave said coming up the driveway “Everything going ok?”

“Come on in” Aiden said waving him into the garage as he held the side door open for him.

Once inside, Dave looked around, it wasn’t home to him anymore.

“Everything is going good with me; how are you doing? I wanted to check on you” Aiden said realizing he towered over the boy.

“Yeah, everything is good” was all he said.

“I’m glad to hear that…have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?” Aiden offered as he motioned to the dining room table.

“No, I’m fine” Dave replied with a shrug as he sat down.

Aiden sat across from him. Dave was not sure what to say or do; he knew to just let the adult drive their meeting.

“I guess I just thought it was a good time to check and see how you were adjusting”

“I’m fine” Dave replied.

“Come on, I need a little more from you than that. You have to tell me some specifics. I mean…we were once each other haha”

“Yeah I guess we were but that all seems like a really long time ago” Dave replied.

“I know what you mean” Aiden said. “Thinking of myself as you…that I should still be a kid seems just plain wrong now. It seems like a dream”

“I know” Dave answered “I don’t think about being an adult. It doesn’t seem right”

“Well we wanted to know what it was like as the other. To really understand…It seems that’s happening as you seem completely foreign to me again”

“You too” Dave said “You’re the adult, not me. You’re the sports guy, not me…”

“Anime and sci-fi and all that stuff doesn’t appeal to me at all anymore. I don’t remember it ever having appeal to me”

“Same here. I can’t remember playing or following football. That’s you” Dave said.

“So…” Aiden began.

Dave looked at him.

“I don’t know how to bring this part up then” Aiden continued as Dave said nothing. “Where do we go from here?”

Dave looked up now a bit of concern on his face “I don’t know what you mean”

“I mean; we’re really getting to be the other. How do we come out of this?” Aiden said.

“Well first I think we have to spend all summer like this” Dave said.

“Yeah, you’re right” Aiden confirmed “I think that’s true”

Dave shrugged “Then I guess we let whatever changed us swap us back”

Aiden pursed his lips and nodded. Then he sat back and smiled “So, tell me how do you like it”

Dave now smiled too “Well, I am enjoying myself. I forgot what it was like to have a summer with no responsibilities. I lost a lot of freedom but I also gained even more”

Aiden nodded slowly “I totally get what you’re saying but from my point of view I also lost freedoms but gained even more. I can go wherever I want whenever I want. I have money at my disposal…”

“I don’t even worry about money in the slightest” Dave interjected.

“I have a wife” Aiden said.

“I don’t have to worry about what someone else has planned or wants to do” Dave replied.

“Unless it’s your Mom” Aiden added with a sly smile.

“You got me there” Dave admitted.

“So we both seem to be enjoying this then” Aiden said.

Dave nodded in agreement. “I never would have thought I would enjoy being you but I am”

“So our swap is beneficial for both of us”

“It makes sense for both of us. It gives you freedoms you never knew and me ones that I missed” Dave said.

Aiden smirked and chuckled and stood up from the table “Come on…we can play Black Ops for a while so your Mom doesn’t get suspicious”

Dave got the best of Aiden, his younger reflexes prevailed over Aiden’s experience and after 2 hours, he headed home.

Dave stopped by the door to put his shoes on and he looked around the house; it no longer felt like home to him.

“Take it easy…I’m sure we’ll catch up a few more times before break is over” Aiden said.

“Yeah” Dave replied and headed back to his house.

Two days later, Dave and his family flew to Florida for vacation. Disney, Universal, the big water park. He was excited to go.

Every morning, his Mom would make sure he was covered in sunscreen; he burned easily. He rode every ride, got souvenirs bought for him, got to watch the Star Wars parade and enjoyed Animal Kingdom more than he ever had before. The only thing off limits to him were the drinks in Epcot. “Good trade” he told himself as he had the time of his life.

Not long after the Wilkens family returned, Aiden, Erin and Lily went on their own vacation. Aiden drove 6 hours to visit his parents. The car was packed and it was a constant struggle to keep Lily occupied but he wouldn’t change a second of it. Stopping off at the zoo and playgrounds and seeing her grandparents play with her were all priceless.

The only thing was he got tired of eating McDonald’s but Lily was on a chicken nugget kick and it was all she was eating on the trip.

They saw each other around the neighborhood. Aiden would watch his parent’s cars come and go and see Dave in there with them and Dave kept an eye on his old house too.

At the end of July, Dave went to his first Drive-In movie. His Uncle Luke found out that he had never been to one before and took him along with his own two kids. Spider-Man and Avengers was the double feature and while even Uncle Luke dozed off, Dave stayed awake the entire time.

By the time he drifted off that night, it was almost 5 A.M.

Dave was playing PlayStation, he was running through a game of Rocket League when something caught his eye. There on his left hand was his silver wedding band.

He jumped up, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a tightening band wrapping around him constricting him and his ability to breathe “Not like this!” his mind screamed.

Dave looked down, his arms looked like they were larger and growing. His chest was spreading as he raced to the downstairs bathroom.

Dave skidded to a stop before the bathroom mirror “No!” he screamed as his beard began to come in and thicken atop his changing and maturing facial features “I don’t want to go back!” he yelled.

Dave bolted upright in his bed panting for breath.

He was shaking but he saw his left hand was bare and his fingers were skinny. He slapped at his small and narrow chest and ran his hands over his smooth cheeks “A dream?! It was just a…” he swung his pale and skinny legs out from beneath the covers “Oh thank God” he sighed and fell back on his bed.

It took several minutes for him to compose himself but then he actually thought about what it all meant “If I panicked at a dream about going back to my old life, does that mean I’m happier here and I really don’t want to go back?”

The house was quiet as he went out into the hall. He walked downstairs. His Dad and brother were gone and his Mom was outside reading so he quietly went outside via the side garage door.

It was a blazing hot day; he could see the heat coming off the street in waves as he stood at the edge of the shade of the garage. He took a few steps out onto the concrete. The hot surface on his bare feet made him sidestep to the grass. He squinted as he looked across the way at his old house.

Erin and Lily were outside but he saw no trace of Aiden.

He watched trying not to stare or look creepy. They seemed so far away.

Aiden had been working on staining the shed in the backyard before the heat had gotten to him and he took a break inside. As he sipped his iced tea in his recliner, he shut his eyes.

20 minutes later he shot up, slamming his foot rest down and feeling like he couldn’t breathe “No!” was all his mind screamed.

He burst out through the front door and saw his wife and daughter playing.

“What’s wrong with you honey, you look like you’ve seen a ghost! You’re all pale and sweaty, I thought you were taking a break” Erin said going to him concerned.

“I’m fine” he said softly “I’m fine” he repeated stronger.

“I think you’re done outside for the day. It looks like the heat got to you” Erin told him as she picked up Lily and headed inside.

“I’ll be in, I just wanted a minute of fresh air” Aiden said.

“I’ll be timing you. You’re going to relax this afternoon”

“I think that’s a good idea. I’m just not feeling good” Aiden said.

“I can tell. I know you…” Erin said with a wink and a kiss on the cheek.

Aiden looked across and saw Dave. His dream returned. His nightmare. He had woken up thinking he had turned back into the skinny little kid he now saw across the way.

 July came and went and as August dawned, Aiden found himself going to school for meetings and getting rooms ready for the upcoming year. He had lesson plans to turn in and he filled out all his paperwork.

As the last weekend of summer vacation dawned, both of them were apprehensive of what came next.

On Sunday afternoon, Dave saw Erin leave with Lily so he quickly headed over seeing that Aiden was mowing the grass.

Aiden caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He saw Dave’s thin frame approaching and his throat tightened.

He shut off the engine and gave a friendly smile as Dave approached.

“So…here we are” Aiden said putting his hands on his hips.

“Yeah…I thought I should come over” Dave said running his hand over his head.

“Yeah…we should talk” Aiden added. “It’s time”

Aiden wiped his hands off on his shorts “Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine” Dave replied as they headed to the garage and the bare spot where Erin’s car was missing.

“So who talks first?” Dave asked.

Aiden smirked catching the sly Star Wars reference “I don’t even know where to begin. I don’t want to hurt your feeling or anything but I have to say this; if I don’t, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life”

Dave just looked at him. His head was pounding from nerves, Aiden’s voice sounded like it was coming down a tunnel he was so nervous.

Aiden took a deep sigh “I don’t want to go back”

Dave’s head cleared. A high pitched whistle sounding like a freight train ran through his ears as his head cleared “Neither do I”

Now it was Aiden’s turn to exhale “You…you don’t?!”

“No!” he shook his head vigorously “No! The thought of switching back is petrifying to me! I want to stay so bad you have no idea. This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. This is the life I was meant to have”

Aiden swayed “I feel the exact same way”

Dave’s jaw dropped as their eyes met “You mean…”

“We have to figure out how we can stay” Aiden said.

“We just wish for it…we wished to do this, we can wish to stay like this. I understand completely why we swapped now. We were supposed to”

“I think you’re right” Aiden replied “I know I was just a kid and hadn’t really had much of a chance to spread out; I know I was destined to become you”

“And I was destined to become you” Dave replied “I’m not supposed to be the adult yet; you are…sorry you had to miss your 20s” he shrugged.

“But I didn’t. I remember everything”

“And I don’t remember a thing…I can’t see anything past 16” Dave added.

“You’re honest to God sure you want to do this? You want to give up being an adult and go back to 16 permanently, having to grow up all over again; giving up your education, job, home, wi…” Aiden said until Dave’s hand shot up to interrupt him.

“Don’t say the last two but yes…” He nodded “Are you sure? You didn’t get to pick this career path or wife or life. You just got dropped into it. You’re giving up your last two years of high school, your entire college, your entire 20’s to take over my messy life. You’re doubling your age”

“I’m not only perfectly ok with it, it’s everything I want” Aiden said in reply.

“I get your future” Dave said.

“I have yours already” Aiden countered. “This happened for a reason: Two people don’t simply swap bodies because they say they don’t understand each other…No…this happened for this absolute reason”

Dave simply nodded, getting nervous about how to word his wish.

“So…are you ready?” Aiden asked, a smile creeping over his face

Dave just looked nervous but he too began to smile as he nodded. “I am”

“I’m excited” Aiden said.

“I’m relieved” Dave responded.

“I wish this was permanent. I wish I was David Michael Nelson from now on; never forgetting who I once was but also never returning to that life” Aiden said.

Dave took the que “I wish this was permanent. I wish I was Aiden James Wilkens from now on; never forgetting who I once was but also never returning to that life”

Aiden suddenly tensed up; every muscle in his body stiffened, his jaw clenched and he began to shiver; his body vibrating.

Dave now too stiffened up. He pursed his lips to keep a low moan from escaping as his body shuddered from head to toe.

Waves of energy passed off of them and over them. Aiden would later swear that he saw a faint blue light coming off of Dave and Dave would say the same about Aiden except that the color he saw was more of a reddish orange color and the longer they watched, the more that color changed until Aiden was bathed in blue light and Dave was awash in bright orange.

And then it was over.

Both men slumped forward staggering and catching their breath.

“I…I think it worked” Dave said standing back up to his full height and looking over at the young man standing before him, patting himself down with a smile on his face.

“It did…I’m Aiden now for good” Aiden said happily, showing the most emotion Dave had ever seen from the 16 year old.

They embraced briefly both fully understanding that their names and identities had permanently switched; their entire lives had switched and were now theirs to live from that moment on, never having to worry again about going back.

“So…I’ll see you around the neighborhood” Aiden said.

“And school, you don’t have to have me as a teacher again though I do get to have your little brother in class” Dave said smiling.

“Thanks” Aiden finally said.

“No…thank you” Dave replied.