Eddie watched his own body step up to the plate, each movement as practiced as he remembered. He brushed the blonde locks from his eyes, eager for a clear view of the swing. So far, whoever had swapped bodies with him, leaving him in this woman’s form, had imitated him flawlessly. Just yesterday they exited the practice arena through the player’s private exit, freshly showered, dressed in sweats and a hoodie—just as he always did. Eddie followed, observing them punch the gate code of his mansion without a glance at the keys. It was all too perfect; this person must have been observing him for months, maybe years.
“He lifts one to right field, and oh! It’s got just enough to make it over the wall. His third home run of the season,” the announcer bellowed to a roaring crowd. Eddie watched his former body nonchalantly flip the bat aside and trot around the bases with a lifetime’s worth of confidence—a confidence he once embodied, now merely a spectator to his own achievements. It was disturbing.
That was all Eddie needed to see. He stood up, adjusted his pants, and started the long ascent up the stadium steps. He was in a daze, half-expecting to confirm that the real Eddie was in the stands, not on the field. He left feeling the complete opposite. Was he the imposter? Was he just another stalker of a professional athlete, or suffering from memory loss? These thoughts raced through his mind as he climbed the stairs and accidentally bumped into someone, a small, feminine yelp escaping his lips.
“Watch where you’re going…” a large man grumbled, turning to see who had bumped him. “I oughtta… oh, so sorry, Miss. I’ve had a magnetic pull on pretty ladies as long as I can remember,” he quickly amended, his tone softening upon seeing Eddie. He spread his arms across the railing, blocking Eddie’s way. Eddie flashed a dry smile and tried to squeeze past, but the man stood firm. “You made me drop my beer. The least you could do is come get some drinks with me,” he insisted, oblivious to Eddie’s attempts to escape. Eddie, once always the biggest person in the room, was deeply unsettled. Thankfully, a security guard approached due to the forming line, prompting the man to move along. Eddie quickly slipped away.
Once on the bustling streets of New York City, Eddie wandered aimlessly, trying to regain his composure. He was already shaken by seeing his old body hit a home run, but the harassment as he left was the final straw. He disliked feeling so vulnerable. Looking down at the curvy body he now inhabited, he sighed in resignation.
