David left the Pharmaceutical facility and began his journey towards the office in which he worked, all the while his mind was racing, still processing the events of his appointment with Dr Maddox. A mere week ago, he was just a regular guy who found an ad or a clinical drug trial offering to pay a significant amount of money. When he’d agreed to take part in the trial, it had been explained to him that the drug was supposed to slowly change his male body until it resembled that of a biological female. He had been assured that the process would be gradual and painless.

And yet, here he was, a mere week later. He had lost a good few inches in height, his face now looked more feminine, his hair was longer, his waistline was significantly smaller and yet his hips were definitely wider, any sign of muscle mass he did have had disappeared and he now had distinct breasts that were getting larger by the day it seemed. And that was just the changes that were noticeable to other people. He now had an appointment he never imagined he would ever need, an appointment with an OB/GYN. He now had a gynaecologist appointment for the following week. He already realised that his penis and testicles continued to shrink, but now to be told that he had already begun to develop a vagina, was a bombshell, he truly wasn’t ready for.

David pulled up to his usual parking spot and climbed out of his car. He checked the time on his phone, realising he had arrived much later than he had done the previous week. He got out of the car and began making his way towards the building, stopping at the usual alleyway to have a quick cigarette to buy himself some time to pluck up the courage to enter his workplace.

Once he’d finished, David adjusted his clothes before taking a deep breath and heading into the building. David stood in the elevator, nervously awaiting the familiar ping, signifying he had arrived at work. The elevator ride seemed to go on forever, and David couldn't wait for it to be over. He kept fidgeting with his clothes, trying to keep his nerves under control. What will people think of him, now that his appearance has changed even further? Even though they had been briefed on what was going to happen, it was all happening so fast. It was only yesterday that he had informed his colleagues of the drug trial and how his appearance would shift to looking like that of a female. Yet now, here he was, unable to deny the fact he clearly looked more feminine.

Finally, the familiar ping of the elevator sounded, and the doors opened. David took a deep breath and stepped out onto his floor, trying to appear as confident as possible. He made his way towards the reception desk, where his colleague Hannah was busy typing away on the computer, with the telephone resting between her shoulder and ear.

She hadn’t noticed David’s approach until he was mere feet in front of her. As she looked up and saw him, her eyes widened in surprise, and she briefly stumbled over her words on the phone. David couldn't help but notice the way her gaze lingered on him, and he couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious, even though he knew Hannah meant no harm. David began to sign himself in, but before he could leave, Hannah raised her hand, telling him to wait where he was as she was almost finished. David couldn't help but feel like he was under a spotlight, with everyone's attention on him, he felt like the eyes of his colleagues were on him as they passed by without saying a word.

After what felt like an eternity, Hannah finally ended her call and turned her attention to David. Her eyes widened even more as she took in his new appearance.

“Wow, David, you look great!” she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face as she got up out of her seat, “I barely even recognised you when you walked in,” she added.

David couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and happiness at her reaction,

“Erm…thanks…I guess,” he mumbled in response.

“So…I’m guessing there have been more changes…huh?” asked Hannah, as she proceeded to look David up and down her eyes filled with curiosity.

“Erm…you could say that,” David replied as he felt his cheeks beginning to flush, yet unsure whether it was Hannah’s words or her prying eyes that were causing him to do so.

“And how did the appointment go?” Hannah asked, David could sense the excitement in her voice, “Everything going okay?” she added with a smile.

“Yeah… everything…is, erm…just fine,” David replied, thinking back to the unexpected events of the morning.

“You don’t sound too convinced David,” replied Hannah, “I tell you what, I wanna hear everything over lunch, okay, sound good?”

“Erm…yeah, I guess so,” David answered.

“Good, I’ll see you at lunch,” stated Hannah with a smile.      

Seeing Hannah’s warm, smiling face, David couldn’t help but feel less anxious than he had when he’d arrived. Her warm, smiling face immediately put him at ease and made him feel welcome. Her caring and supportive personality radiated from within, making her a source of comfort for anyone she interacted with. And for David, she had become one of the only things that helped him get through the working day.

It wasn't like David had a crush on Hannah or anything like that. While he did find her incredibly attractive, it was her inner beauty that truly captivated him. Her genuine concern for others, her kind and compassionate nature, and her ability to make everyone feel seen and heard were just a few of the things that made her stand out.

As David made his way to his office, he could feel the eyes of his coworkers on him as he walked through the corridors. However, unlike they had in the past, many of them smiled and acknowledged him, making him feel somewhat at ease.

As he got to his office door, he could already hear the upbeat humming coming from Andy.

David rolled his eyes and opened the door, stepping inside. As he did so, Andy looked up from his desk, giving David a double take.

“Hey Davy boy, I almost didn’t recognise you there,” stated Andy with a chuckle, in his usual upbeat manner.

“Hey Andy,” replied David as he took his seat at his desk.

Andy then proceeded to make small talk regarding family life, work, the usual office gossip etc, which David was pleased to know had nothing to do with him as he feared it would. Andy was clearly making every effort to make David feel comfortable and avoid the topic of him and his appearance. David appreciated Andy's effort to make him feel comfortable, but it only served to make him more anxious. He could feel the weight of their unspoken conversation hanging over them. And as the day went on, the tension only grew.

“Look, Andy,” said David, trying his best to remain calm, “Can we just…you know…work in silence for a while.”

Andy looked across at David, rather taken aback by his outburst,

“Erm..yeah…sure…if that’s what you’d like,” he replied with a smile.

David immediately regretted his outburst. He knew Andy was only trying to help, and he felt guilty for snapping at him. But he also knew that he couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. He needed to address the elephant in the room.

“Andy…I apologise,” said David, “I appreciate that you’re trying your best to make me feel comfortable, I truly do. I know I look a little different…but after all…I’m still David, I’m still the guy you’ve always worked with. I don’t need any extra care and attention…you know. I will answer any questions you have…but please…no more small talk…okay.”

Andy nodded, understanding David's point.

“I know, David. And I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he replied, his sincerity evident.

David smiled,

“I appreciate your concern,” he replied, “And yes, I’m fine.”

The room fell silent once again, however, this time, it no longer felt awkward or uncomfortable. That was, however, until Andy spoke up again.

“So…why did you do it?…if you don’t mind me asking, that is,” said Andy, sounding rather curious.

David closed his eyes and took a deep breath,

“Gimme a break,” he thought.

“I just thought I’d ask…you know,” Andy continued, “Did you like…always want to be a chick or was it a new thing?”

“I erm…I’m doing this…solely for the money…okay Andy,” replied David, “After my wife left me, I was kinda in dire straights financially, and lord knows this place didn’t pay me enough to get my life back on track.” 

“Oh…okay cool,” replied Andy before falling silent once more, this time continuing with his work.

David knew that Andy wouldn’t be the only one who wanted to ask that type of question, especially in the office.

“Honestly, I’d have signed up to this trial if it was gonna turn me into a freaking lizard I think…I was just so desperate for the money,” he thought as he continued to work on his computer. In fact, David was so engrossed in his work that he didn’t even realise the time until Stephanie poked her head through into his office.

“Hey, David, it’s almost lunchtime. Me and Hannah are going to our usual place, want to grab something to eat?” she asked with a smile.

David smiled back at Stephanie. He quickly saved his work and shut down his computer before taking a deep breath and standing up from his desk, preparing himself for the further onslaught of questions he was set to receive, this time from his two closest friends and coworkers.

“Sure, why not,” he replied, following Stephanie out of his office and towards the reception desk to collect Hannah on their way.

The trio left the office building and started making their way to the café they had begun to frequent over the past week.

“I must admit David, you have changed so much, even just since yesterday,” stated Stephanie, “you look so much more…” she added before pausing, clearly trying to choose her words carefully.

“Feminine?” asked David, “It’s okay, you can say it you know,” he added, preempting what Stephanie was about to say.

“Yeah,” replied Stephanie with a smile, “I just can’t believe how much this trial has changed you, you look amazing.”

“Thank you,” David replied, feeling his cheeks begin to blush.

“So…tell us about the appointment, what was said David?” asked Hannah, wasting no time.

“Well…everything is…progressing so far, in fact…it’s going quicker than the doctors anticipated actually,” replied David.

“Oh, okay, I must admit it is all happening kinda crazy fast,” replied Hannah, “I mean, where did that hair come from…it wasn’t there yesterday,” she added with a smile.

“Yeah, I know,” responded David, fidgeting with his hair, which actually felt a few inches longer than it was that morning.

“A little bit longer and you’ll be able to get it styled,” said Hannah, grinning from ear to ear.

David quickly shook his head at her suggestion.

“No…there will be no styling of any hair,” answered David, “I’m thinking I should go for a haircut if I’m honest…keep a bit of normality.”

The two girls began to giggle, seeing David’s reaction,

“Don’t you think that may be a little fruitless though?” asked Stephanie, “It’d probably just grow straight back.”

Stephanie did have a valid point. David's hair was growing at a rapid pace, and it was unlikely that a haircut would make much of a difference.

“Okay then…I’ll have to learn how to put it in a ponytail then…nothing more,” said David as he was definitely now blushing, his cheeks feeling as though they were on fire.

As they arrived at the café, the trio sat down and ordered their food and drinks. The look on the waitress’ face was a picture of bemusement, however, as she took David’s order when a rather deep, masculine voice came from someone who appeared to be female, all apart from her or rather his, dress sense.

As the trio awaited their order, the conversation continued, with Stephanie and Hannah asking more questions about David's changes.

“It's just so fascinating to see how quickly you're transforming,” said Stephanie, “I mean, just yesterday you still looked somewhat male and now...well, you're definitely not.”

“So, I’m guessing you have an appointment next week?” asked Hannah as the waitress arrived with their drinks.

David waited for the waitress to leave before he replied,

“Well…yeah I do…two actually, one of which is I have to meet with a shrink,” he answered, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Okay…cool, at least they care about how this may affect you mentally,” replied Hannah, “And I’m guessing the other appointment is with the doctor?” she asked.

“Something like that,” replied David, feeling a little hesitant to share more details. He had always been a private person, and lying was never his strong point.

Stephanie and Hannah exchanged a knowing look, understanding that David was withholding something.

“Well, I can come with you again, if you’d like,” said Hannah, trying to ease the tension. “I know how anxious you were at meeting the doctor for the first time, so a friendly face may help again,” she added.

Hearing Hannah’s offer, David almost choked on his drink, he was touched by her thoughtfulness and support, but he also knew that he couldn't accept her offer. Not this time.

“No…no…I’ll be fine,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. The truth was, his other appointment was with Dr Gabriella Watson, a gynaecologist. And that was something he wasn't quite ready to admit to his friends.

Stephanie and Hannah could sense that David was holding something back, but they didn't push him any further. They knew that he would share when he was ready. Instead, they changed the subject back to his appearance and continued their conversation, making sure to keep things light and easy.

“Have you ever thought it may be time to at least buy new clothes?” asked Stephanie.

Once more David shook his head,

“Nope,” he stated, “I’m perfectly happy to wear my guy clothes…just as I always have.”

“I’m not saying go crazy and like start buying dresses and everything, I just mean clothes that…you know…would fit better for the time being,” explained Stephanie.

“Stephanie does have a valid point, I’m really struggling to fit in any of my clothes properly anymore…” thought David, yet he still found himself shaking his head dismissing Stephanie’s suggestion entirely.

The conversation was interrupted as the waitress brought their food to the table. As they ate, David sat silently, lost in his thoughts. He knew that he needed to address the issue of his clothes, but he couldn't bring himself to make any changes and he certainly wasn’t willing to deviate away from dressing as he usually did. The girls were chatting amongst themselves as they ate, every now and then attempting to bring David into their conversation. But the most they received from him were one-word answers, shrugs, or simple head nodding.

Soon enough, they had all finished eating and were making their way back to work. As they walked, Stephanie and Hannah could sense that something was bothering David, but they didn't want to push him any further. As they reached the alleyway, beside the office, Stephanie parted ways with her friends and Hannah remained with David.

“You really don’t have to stay with me,” said David as he lit up a cigarette and leaned his back against a wall, “I’ll be fine on my own…you know.”

Hannah gave David a knowing look. “We're friends, David. We stick together, no matter what. So, what's on your mind?”

David sighed and took a drag of his cigarette. He knew that he couldn't hide from his friends forever, but he did feel more comfortable discussing everything with Hannah. No disrespect to Stephanie, but Hannah had been there for him, since the very beginning.

“It’s…erm…” began David before pausing, “I guess Stephanie was right…about the clothes thing. I do need things that would fit me better,” he explained with a laugh, thinking that would throw Hannah off the scent of what was truly on his mind.

“David..” said Hannah rather sternly, once again giving him a look, saying that she didn’t quite believe him. “There’s been something bothering you since before we started discussing clothes,” she said. “You went all weird when we were talking about next week's appointment.”

David sighed and took another drag of his cigarette. It was as if Hannah truly knew him more than anyone had before. Even his guy friends would have believed what he was telling them, but not Hannah.

“You can tell me,” added Hannah, looking at him with her warm, reassuring smile.

“I guess I can't hide it from you,” David admitted. “I've been dreading next week's appointment. I have to see a…erm…different Doctor.”

“Oh…I know you mentioned the psychologist…but another new doctor…not Dr Maddox?” said Hannah sounding rather surprised.

David silently shook his head.

 “So…what for…is this some kind of specialist or something?” Hannah asked sounding rather curious.

David nodded, he could feel the words he wanted to say, but they seemed to stick at the back of his throat.

“Oh…did they say what for?” inquired Hannah.

David closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to say the words out loud.

“She’s a…she’s an erm… gynaecologist…” he was finally able to mutter, his cheeks now feeling like they were on fire.

 David expected her to laugh or make fun of him, just like his usual pack of friends would have. But instead, Hannah's reaction was one of understanding and empathy.

Hannah's eyes widened in understanding, and she reached out to place a comforting hand on David's shoulder.

“Oh,” she said softly. “I see.”

David felt a sense of relief wash over him, Hannah wasn’t like the others in his life, her support and understanding always made him feel less alone and brought him a sense of comfort.

“Now you see why I was reluctant to say anything,” stated David, his hands still trembling after finally admitting what was on his mind.

Hannah smiled,

“David, it’s okay,” she said softly, “It’s something most…if not all women go through at some point in their lives. Hell, I’ve seen mine regularly for the past 2 years. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, with what you’re doing,” she explained.

“But…I’m not exactly a woman…am I,” said David, “And guys shouldn’t need to see a…a lady doctor,” he added, unable to prevent himself from laughing ever so slightly at the situation he was in.

Hannah looked at him with a reassuring look in her eyes,

“David, most of the time…no…you’re right, you’re not,” she said, “but look at what your body is going through because of this drug you signed up to trial…for the next year at least…you will and have already started developing a woman’s body. And this simply means that they are taking all steps necessary to look after you,” she explained.

“I…I guess you’re right,” admitted David, taking one last drag of his cigarette before tossing it to the ground.

“See…I’m always right,” said Hannah with a smirk, playfully pushing David’s arm, causing him to smile.

“Thank you, Hannah,” said David softly.

“What for?” she asked, tilting her head to one side.

“For being here for me,” David replied, “for always supporting me and looking out for me.”

Hannah’s smile widened, her heart warming at David’s words.

“I’m doing nothing unusual. I’m just being there for a friend,” said Hannah with a smile, “It’s nothing different than I know you would do for me.”

David nodded, knowing that Hannah was right. He would do anything for her, just as she had done for him. At that moment, he felt grateful for her friendship. In such a short space of time, he had grown a bond with her that was completely different to his guy friends. And he genuinely felt that he could get through this or anything else,  with her by his side.