The rest of the day passed by in a blur, for David, there was only one thing on his mind and that was his appointment the following morning. For him, it wasn’t about the drug trial itself, what the new drug was for or even spending time with Hannah. No, for David, the main thing that was on his mind was the fact that he would be one step closer to $250,000, one step closer to relieving a lot of his stress, being able to move on from Sara and how he could finally start living his life without the constant weight of financial pressure on his shoulders.

The next morning, David woke up early, in fact,  he had barely slept the night before, he was too excited about his appointment that morning. His heart was racing with excitement and nerves as he quickly got dressed, far quicker in fact than he had done any time in recent memory.

He quickly made his way into the kitchen to grab a coffee, looking at his breakfast muffins that were stored on the kitchen counter.

“I can’t stomach anything this morning,” He thought before heading to the living room. and took a long drag, trying to calm his nerves, before he sipped on his coffee. His heart continued to pound in his chest, making it impossible for him to sit down. He began to pace up and down the living room, his mind racing with thoughts of the day ahead, as he anxiously awaited Hannah’s arrival.

David checked the time on his phone every few minutes, yet the minutes appeared to pass by ever so slowly. Finally, after what felt like hours, he heard a knock on the door. David's heart skipped a beat as he quickly stubbed out his cigarette before rushing to the door.

Hannah stood on the other side, a familiar bright smile on her face. “Good morning, David,” she greeted him, her voice was like a songbird, early on a morning, rather melodic and uplifting.

David couldn't help but smile at her, feeling grateful for her newfound friendship and support.

“Morning,” he replied, trying to contain his nerves.

'Are you ready to go?' she asked, taking hold of David's hand. She could tell just how anxious he was, and she squeezed his hand reassuringly. David took a deep breath and nodded, trying to push away his nerves.

“Nervous…yes…excited…a little I guess, but ready…I’m not sure,” laughed David.

Hannah smiled and gently squeezed his hand once more,

“It’s not too late to back out, you know,” she said with a concerned look on her face.

David paused for a moment, taking in her words. He knew that she meant well, but he also knew that he couldn’t back out now. This drug trial was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him

“No,” he replied, shaking his head, “I need to do this…”

Hannah could see the determination in his eyes, and she knew that there was no changing his mind. However, she couldn’t help but voice her concerns.

“David…you don’t even know what this drug trial is for…” stated Hannah. “It could be dangerous,” she added. She had a point; David had only been given limited information about the drug trial, and he didn’t know what it was for, never mind the potential risks involved. But David was determined to go through with it. The thought of having enough money to pay off his debts and finally live a comfortable life was too tempting to resist.

“No…I need to do this Hannah,” reiterated David.

Hannah smiled at him, her eyes filled with understanding,

“Well…I will be with you, every step of the way,” she said before checking her watch, “If we’re doing this…we need to go or we’ll be late.”

David took a deep breath and nodded, grateful for her unwavering support. Following Hannah’s lead, David exited his apartment and the pair made their way downstairs to Hannah’s car. David’s mind filled with a mix of nerves and excitement as his heart continued to race as he sat in the passenger seat of Hannah’s car and buckled his seatbelt.

David sat in the passenger seat of the car, his hands clenched tightly into fists as he gazed out the window. The streets of the city flew by in a blur, but he barely registered any of it. His mind was consumed with Hannah's words, which seemed to echo in his head like a broken record. He couldn’t shake off the feeling of uncertainty, and a part of him wondered if he was making the right decision. But he also knew that he could no longer take the way his life was going at the moment and if he backed out now, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

As they drove closer, the pharmaceutical company building loomed larger, its sleek glass exterior and modern architecture standing out among the other buildings. The company’s logo, a symbol of innovation and progress, could be seen from a distance. It was a reminder of the company’s commitment to improving the lives of people around the world.

David felt his heart begin to beat much faster with each yard they got closer to the facility, almost feeling like it was about to escape his chest as they pulled up to the main gate. There was a small speaker on the gates,

“Hello,” crackled a female voice through the speaker.

“H…hello,” David managed to mutter in response.

“Can I help?” asked the voice.

“Erm…yeah…I…erm…I have an appointment…with a Doctor Maddock…something like that,” mumbled David, nervously.

“Doctor Maddox?” asked the woman on the speaker.

“Yeah…9am…” answered David.

“And your name?” asked the woman, her tone professional and business-like.

“David Sanders,” stated David, trying his best to sound confident despite the growing sense of unease within him. He could feel a bead of sweat beginning to form on his brow, but he quickly wiped it away.

“I will let the Doctor know you have arrived,” said the woman, “If you would please follow the road around, the visitor's car park will be the first on the left, from there you will clearly see the main reception signposted,” she instructed.

David thanked the lady as the gate slowly opened. Hannah began to drive through, following the instructions given to her by the lady on the intercom.

The visitor’s car park was almost empty when they arrived,  so Hannah had no trouble finding a spot that was fairly close to the path that led up to the entrance. They parked the car and made their way towards the main reception. David couldn't help but notice the sterile and clinical atmosphere of the facility as they stepped inside. The white walls, the polished floors, and the smell of disinfectant only added to his anxiety.

As they approached the reception, David's heart was racing, and his palms were sweaty. He gave his name to the receptionist, who he quickly recognised as the voice of the intercom, and was asked to take a seat in the waiting area. David and Hannah made their way towards the waiting area, and just as they were about to sit down, a small woman with short dark hair, wearing thick-framed glasses and a long white lab coat came out of a door close by.

“Mr Sanders?” asked the woman, adjusting the frames of her glasses.

David nodded, his anxiety increasing with each passing second.

“Hi, I'm Dr Abigail Maddox,” stated the woman, “Feel free to call me Dr Abby,” she added with a smile as she firmly shook David’s hand. “If you would like to follow me, we shall get started,” she instructed, leading the pair back to the door she had just come out of.

Hannah gave David an encouraging smile as they followed Dr Maddox into the room. As soon as they entered, David's senses were overwhelmed by the bright fluorescent lights, his heart was pounding in his chest, and he gripped Hannah's hand tighter for support.

Dr Maddox held the door open as David and Hannah entered the room. They both took a seat on the chairs in front of Dr Maddox's desk. David couldn't help but fidget, while Hannah clasped her hands tightly in her lap.

“So,” started Dr Maddox, “Mr Sanders, may I call you David?” she asked with a warm smile.

David nodded nervously, “Yes, of course,” he replied.

“And you must be… Mrs Sanders?” asked Dr Maddox, turning to Hannah.

 

Hannah smiled and shook her head, “No, I’m actually a friend, you can call me Hannah,” she responded.

“Ah, yes…I see you are recently divorced…my apologies,” said Dr Maddox. “So, as I explained in my email David, you are exactly what we appear to be looking for for this clinical trial. And the purpose of you being here today, other than getting started of course, is to make sure that before we do so, importantly, you are happy to take part,” she explained.

Dr Maddox sat back in her chair, her hands clasped together,

“Any questions?” she asked with a smile.

“The payment…is it really…that much?” asked David, warranting a glare from Hannah.

Dr. Maddox chuckled and replied, “Okay...not the opening question I expected, but yes, you will be paid $250,000 for your participation.”

Hannah cleared her throat,

Hannah cleared her throat and spoke up, “So...more importantly of course, what does the new drug do, doctor? Are there any side effects we should be aware of?” Her concern was evident.

Dr. Maddox's reply was reassuring. She explained that there were no known side effects that could cause any harm and that the drug had undergone extensive testing, up until this point. The only minor symptoms that have been reported previously were nausea and/or headaches, but they were fairly early on and easily managed.

“So…what is it?” asked Hannah, sighing with relief after Dr Maddox’s previous explanation.

“Well…” started Dr Maddox, leaning forward in her chair, “As you are fully aware…when we are born, we are assigned a sex, based on physical characteristics, such as genitalia. And for some, their gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth which causes a great deal of confusion and distress for the individual, as they feel like they do not belong in their assigned gender category,” explained Dr Maddox.

Hannah’s eyes widened and she looked at David, who was continually nodding along with everything Dr Maddox was explaining.

Dr Maddox went on to discuss the current treatments available for gender dysphoria, including hormone therapy and surgery, and how they often have limitations and potential risks.

“But with this new drug,” Dr Maddox continued, her eyes lighting up with excitement, “we have found a way to change a person’s physical characteristics to match their true gender identity, without the need for invasive procedures or ongoing hormone therapy. It’s a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of gender identity.”

“Yes Doctor, I fully understand that there are transgender men and women and the struggles they face,…but…but…what does this have to do…with David?” asked Hannah.

“Well…with the trial of every new drug, you have different groups,” explained Dr Maddox, “Whilst we have individuals taking part in this trial that identify as transgender, we also have a requirement to try out the effects of this new drug on a group of individuals, who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth, as he identifies as a cisgender male, meaning his assigned sex at birth aligns with his gender identity.”

“And how does it work…exactly?” asked David, his eyes slightly narrowed.

“What it means David, is if you agree to take part, you will be given the temporary version of our new drug….” Explained Dr Maddox, “One pill and one injection and…well…your body will become indistinguishable from that of a cisgender woman…for an entire year,” she added.

“And after a year…what happens then?”  David asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

 Hannah looked around at her friend in astonishment,

“David…are you actually considering this?” she asked in complete bewilderment.

“After a year, the effects of the drug will wear off, and your body will return to its original state,” Dr Maddox replied.

“So get me get this straight…” stated David, “You want me to simply look like a chick…for a year…and you will pay me $250,000?”

“Indeed,” replied Dr Maddox, “naturally you will come here every month for an examination,” she added.

“And…I’ll still be me?” asked David.

“Yes, the only thing the drug will change is your physical appearance,” replied Dr Maddox.

David took a deep breath and looked into Dr Maddox's eyes, “I'll do it,” he said.

Dr. Maddox couldn’t contain her excitement and immediately got to work. She once again went over the details of the experiment to David and handed him a contract to sign.

David signed the contract without any second thoughts and handed it back to Dr Maddox,

“Great, I shall be right back,” stated Dr Maddox as she got up and left the room.

“I can’t believe you have agreed to go through with this David,” Hannah whispered, still in shock that her friend had made such a decision. David had always been a reserved and conservative person, so the idea of him undergoing a transformation was something that Hannah couldn’t wrap her head around.

“I…I just had to think of the money, Hannah. I couldn’t say no,” explained David, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty, “That amount of money…just for looking like a chick for a year, I’d be crazy to say no…besides…it doesn’t mean I will actually BE a woman, does it? I’ll still be me…I’ll just look a little different for a while,” David laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

Hannah couldn’t help but feel a sense of worry for her friend. She knew that the decision to undergo such a transformation shouldn’t be taken lightly, and she was concerned about the potential consequences it could have on David’s life. But as a true friend, she tried to be supportive and reassured David that she would stand by him throughout the process.

“Well…I guess not,” replied Hannah, trying to be supportive. “Just know that you have my support,” she added with a warm, tender smile.

A short while later, Dr. Maddox returned to the room, carrying a cup of water and a small box which she placed on her desk. She began to unpack the box, revealing a small vial of serum and a large pink pill.

“Right then…one last time…are you sure you want to go through with this?” asked Dr Maddox one last time, handing the pill and a glass of water to David. “Once you swallow this…there’s no going back for a year, understand,” she added assertively as she began to put on a pair of blue nitrile gloves.

David hesitated for a moment, the pink pill sitting in his hand, although it didn’t physically weigh much, the knowledge of what it was going to do, weighed a considerable amount. He knew that once he swallowed it, there was no turning back. But the thought of the money and what it could do for him was too enticing to resist. He took a deep breath and swallowed the pill, taking several swigs of water to get it down.

“Take your jacket off for me please David,” instructed Dr Maddox, her tone now serious and professional.

David followed her instructions, slipping out of his grey suit jacket and Dr Maddox began to administer the injection. The process was quick and relatively painless, all David felt was a small scratch before a cold liquid began to make its way into his body.

“H…How long will it take to work?” asked David, “Will I be leaving here looking like a chick…or?”

Dr Maddox couldn't help but laugh at his question.

“No, David,” she reassured him, “Most of the other participants have reported the changes being rather slow. They don't all happen at once either, by all reports, you should start seeing substantial changes to your body by the end of the week,” she explained as she took off the blue gloves,  promptly disposing of them along with the syringe and the vial.

“So…what now?” asked David

 As Dr Maddox finished up, she explained the possible side effects once again, explaining there may be mild headaches and nausea, specifically within the first week. Dr Maddox stated that these were nothing to be concerned about and that it could easily be managed by over-the-counter medication. She then handed David a small journal,

“We would really appreciate it, David, if you would take the time to note down your own experiences within this journal,” stated Dr Maddox, “Now I’m not saying you have to create a day-to-day diary or anything like that, just as and when you feel that there is something… noteworthy, the date and a quick description will suffice.”

“Such as?” asked David, slipping the journal into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

Dr Maddox smiled, “Such as changes in your physical appearance, mood swings, increased or decreased appetite, anything like that…of course, we will be monitoring your changes here at our monthly appointments, but a first-hand account, is always most helpful,” she explained.

“Oh…okay,” David replied.

Dr Maddox then returned to her desk and began typing away on her computer. She scheduled a follow-up appointment for the end of the week to monitor his initial progress before their once-a-month appointments begin.

“And…the money?” asked David, “Will that be like a…now thing…an after thing?”

Dr Maddox peered at David over the thick frames of her glasses,

“I can assure you, you will be getting paid for this David,” replied Dr Maddox, “You need to hand in your bank details to Caroline on reception, she will sort it from there.”

David and Hannah and Dr Maddox got up from their seats,

“Thank you for choosing to participate in this David,” stated Dr Maddox, “I know how intimidating drug trials can be, let alone, ones that will alter your body in such a manner.”

“It’s nothing to worry about,” replied David, reaching across to shake her hand. “I should be thanking you for allowing me to take part in something for such a life-changing sum of money,” he added, with a glint in his eyes and a smile etched on his face.

Hearing her friend's response, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. She knew that David's primary reason for participating was the money, but she couldn't blame him after hearing a brief version of his life's troubles. Yet, Hannah couldn’t help but think that David was being a little too flippant with it all, that he wasn’t taking the clinical trial too seriously, his mind focused purely on the money involved.

“I will see you in a week, David,” stated Dr Maddox just as David and Hannah left Dr Maddox’s office and headed back to the reception.

As they reached the reception, David explained to Caroline, the friendly receptionist, that Dr Maddox had instructed him to give her his bank account details for his payment. Caroline, with a warm smile, assured David that she would take care of it. She then went on to explain that the payment would be split into four ways, and David could expect to find an extra $62,500 in his bank account every three months. with the first payment due to be made by the end of that week. This news was like music to David's ears and he thanked Caroline for her help. She replied with a humble smile, saying that it was her job to assist in any way possible.

David and Hannah then left, heading back out into the parking lot and making their way back to Hannah’s car.

“Well…this is gonna be much easier than I imagined,” stated David as he climbed into the passenger seat and buckled himself in.

Hannah looked at him with the same level of shock she had in the doctor's office,

“I still can’t believe you’re going through with this,” she said as she started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. “I mean, it’s a big decision, and you didn’t even hesitate.”

David sighed a heavy sigh,

“Hannah,” stated David a look of sadness in his eyes, “the way my life is going at the moment…I can’t take it anymore,” he explained. “If looking like a woman for a year, solves at least just my financial problems, who am I to argue?”

Hannah could see the pain and frustration in David’s eyes. She knew that he had been struggling for a while now, both financially and emotionally. As he had explained to her the day before, ever since his divorce, David had always faced financial difficulties. In his mind, this time next year he will be back to normal, living debt-free.