Deep Breath

 

Brianna works for an underground program that rescues people targeted by LGBT violence and gives them new identities. Ahmed had made contact from Tunisia a few days prior, citing concerns that he would be attacked after a neighbor caught him trying on woman's clothing. Brianna's team managed to bring him to a safehouse just minutes before a mob broke into his apartment.

Given the short notice, there was only one body available for the swapping operation. Monica, a 23-year-old woman, had been pronounced braindead after a severe car crash. He would assume her identity. Ahmed knew his old life was over anyway, so he agreed to the procedure. When he awoke, he was a completely new person. He had been moved to a small compound in the Italian countryside. There were a few others like him, each getting used to their new body and new identity. It took Ahmed a while to learn how to walk again; his feet were quite small. Getting dressed was fun though; he tried on dozens of different outfits, all without fear of ridicule or persecution. When he saw Brianna on a walk outside, he ran out to meet her in order to say thank you. However, lingering doubts crept up in his mind as he took in his new surroundings. "I... wa..." he started but couldn't finish.

"It's alright," Brianna calmly told Ahmed. "There's nothing to fear. You're safe now." The newfound relief and new sensations were enough to bring Ahmed to tears. From the wind blowing through his long hair to the goosebumps on his soft skin, he could hardly believe he was alive, let alone a woman. It was too much to take in. "Just take a deep breath, nice and easy..." Brianna continued.