The smell of stale perfume and something like burnt toast hit her before she opened her eyes. A dull ache throbbed in her temples, and she instinctively brought a hand to her forehead, only to be met with the scratchy fabric of a sweater instead of her usual satin sheets.
Where am I?
Her heart raced as she blinked against the harsh light filtering through the wardrobe’s slats. She was cramped inside a small, dim space filled with coats that smelled of mothballs. Panic flared in her chest as she struggled to sit up, the weight of her body unfamiliar and heavy. It felt like a lead weight had settled in her stomach.
She managed to twist around, her heart thudding louder as she caught sight of the room beyond the wardrobe. It was a lavish hotel suite, with plush carpets and extravagant curtains framing a wide window. Sunlight streamed in, illuminating a bed where a couple lay tangled in sheets. The woman was blonde and slender, while the man—his face partially obscured—had dark curls that spilled over the pillow.
As she watched, the woman stretched lazily, her laughter spilling into the air, melodic and carefree. The sound twisted something deep inside her—a sense of familiarity that felt just out of reach.
And then it hit her.
She blinked again, disbelief turning into horror. The reflection of a plump, short body stared back at her from the wardrobe’s mirrored door. The round face was unfamiliar, her once-svelte frame replaced by soft curves and the hint of a double chin. Panic bubbled within her. This wasn’t her body. She was a world-famous model—tall, lithe, and polished to perfection.
What is happening?
Frantic thoughts raced through her mind. She had been at a shoot, a glamorous campaign for a luxury brand, posing in a stunning dress that hugged her body just right. The flashes of cameras, the low murmur of admiration—hadn’t that been just hours ago? Now, here she was, wedged in a closet like an unwanted garment.
A sudden movement from the bed pulled her attention back. The couple had stirred, the man sitting up and raking a hand through his hair. The woman leaned over, brushing her fingers down his arm, and a strange sense of longing flickered in the pit of her stomach. Was this jealousy? Yearning for something she couldn’t identify?
A shiver crept down her spine as she realized she was an intruder in their world—a ghost peering into the lives of two strangers.
With a deep breath, she pushed against the door of the wardrobe, the wood creaking ominously. Just as it swung open, the couple turned their heads, eyes wide with surprise.
She stumbled out, feeling every ounce of weight pulling her down as the sun blazed brightly around her.
“Who are you?” the woman gasped, clutching the sheets to her chest.
“Wait—” the man started, but she didn’t give them the chance to process.
“Please, I don’t know how I got here,” she pleaded, but as the words escaped her lips, she barely recognized her own voice. The soft, sweet tones of the woman before her was a far cry from her hoarse and husky voice. “I just need to get out.”
Before she could move, the woman shot a glance at the man, panic flickering in her eyes. “What if she’s not what she seems?” she whispered urgently, clutching the sheets tighter. “What if she wants to hurt us?”
The man grabbed a towel from the bed, wrapping it around his waist as he approached her. His expression twisted into one of disgust. “Get out of here,” he said, advancing toward her.
As he reached out, his hand brushed against her arm. She flinched, feeling a jolt of discomfort at his touch. It was as if he had touched something slimy and repulsive. He recoiled immediately, his face contorting in revulsion.
“What the hell?” he spat, pulling his hand back as if he’d been burned. “Ugh, just leave!”
She looked pointedly at the towel around his waist, an eyebrow raised in mockery. “Is that all you have to show for yourself?” she shot back, unable to stop herself from commenting on the size of his privates.
His eyes widened, anger flashing across his face. “You think you can talk to me like that?” He stepped closer, his fists clenching at his sides. “You’re nothing!”
Just as he raised his hand, ready to strike, she seized her chance. In a blink, she darted past him, adrenaline surging through her veins. She slipped out of the room and into the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Get back here!” he shouted, but she was already running, fueled by a mix of fear and the desperate need to escape this bizarre nightmare.
As she sprinted toward the elevator, she felt the weight of her unfamiliar body dragging her down. She reached the doors just as they began to slide shut, and in a moment of panic, she lunged forward.
But her hand caught in the gap, and she yanked it back, cursing her clumsiness. “This stupid body!” she muttered under her breath, feeling the sting of humiliation. It was as if her own flesh had betrayed her, making her feel awkward and ungainly.
With a swift motion, she forced the doors open again and stumbled inside, heart racing. She jabbed the button for the ground floor, barely noticing the flicker of the display as the doors slid shut behind her.
“Please, just get me out of here,” she whispered to the elevator, praying for a quick escape from this nightmare.
As the elevator descended, the weight of her new reality pressed down on her. How had everything changed so drastically? She needed answers, and more than anything, she needed to get back to her own life.