It's Just Wild

 

I can’t help but chuckle to myself as I stand in the kitchen, leaning slightly against the dining table, my hand resting protectively on my seven-months-pregnant belly. The rose-colored dress I’m wearing clings gently to my growing form, a reminder of just how much has changed—about me, about everything. The house smells like lilies and daisies, the flowers Luke brought in earlier as we prepare for our families to arrive. Today’s the big day, not just because we’re hosting a family reunion, but because we’re about to announce our engagement.

It’s hard to wrap my mind around how drastically my life has shifted in the past seven months. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be pregnant, engaged, and planning a future as Rachel—*Rachel*, not Ryan—I would’ve laughed in their face. But here I am, completely transformed, not just physically but in every other sense. And the strangest part? I like it. I actually like it.

I glance down at my belly and smile as I feel a gentle kick from inside. It amazes me, still, that there’s a life growing in me. My child. Luke’s child. And despite the shock and the whirlwind of how it all came to be, I’ve never felt more certain that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

It’s crazy to think how it all started. Seven months ago, I was Ryan—a regular guy with a regular life. But that night when Luke asked me for help, everything changed. Luke had been desperate to find a girlfriend for his company’s big dinner—his boss had an old-fashioned view, and Luke thought showing up alone might cost him a promotion. I’d joked about being his girlfriend for the night, which was funny until I remembered the weird app I’d downloaded on a whim. I hadn’t expected it to actually work.

I remember sitting there with Luke, half-jokingly filling in the details—dark hair, blue eyes, a woman’s figure—and then hitting submit. I went to bed, laughing it off, but when I woke up the next morning, everything was different. I was different.

Gone was Ryan, and in his place was Rachel—a woman in every sense. My body had completely transformed, down to the smallest detail. Long brown hair, a softer face, curves where I’d never had them before. I remember standing in front of the mirror, touching my new body, feeling utterly bewildered. But it wasn’t just that my body had changed—the app had rewritten reality itself. To everyone around me, including Luke, I had always been Rachel. No one remembered Ryan. No one but me.

At first, it had been disorienting, like waking up in someone else’s life. But with time, I grew used to it. I learned to accept my reflection, learned how to move, dress, and live as a woman. There was an odd comfort in it, in the ease with which I settled into this new version of myself. And then, of course, there was Luke.

It wasn’t long before our friendship shifted. He was still my best friend, but with me being Rachel, things started to feel different. We spent more time together, the tension between us growing. One night, after a bottle of wine, I kissed him. I wasn’t even sure why I did it—it just felt right. The kiss led to more, and soon, we were in bed together. The experience was intense, more intimate than anything I’d felt as Ryan. Everything was heightened, every touch, every sensation. Being a woman, experiencing sex as a woman—it was overwhelming but also deeply satisfying.

I hadn’t planned on getting pregnant, of course. I don’t think that even crossed my mind at the time. But when I missed my period a few weeks later, and the nausea set in, I knew. I took the pregnancy test, sitting on the bathroom floor, staring at the little pink line with wide eyes. I’m pregnant.

Telling Luke had been nerve-wracking, but his reaction had been better than I ever could’ve imagined. He hugged me, kissed my forehead, and whispered that we’d figure it all out together. It was in that moment that I knew—despite how wild this journey had been—that I wanted this life. I wanted this baby. And the more the pregnancy progressed, the more I settled into being Rachel. Every kick, every little flutter in my belly made me feel more at peace in my own skin.

As crazy as it sounds, I like being pregnant. Sure, there are uncomfortable moments—the backaches, the sleepless nights—but I love the connection I feel to the baby growing inside me. I love the way my body has changed, how it’s become this nurturing, life-creating vessel. I never thought I’d say this, but I could see myself doing it again. Having more kids. The thought doesn’t scare me anymore. In fact, it excites me. I like the idea of growing our family, of feeling this way again.

“Hey, you doing okay?” Luke’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. He’s standing in the doorway, smiling at me, looking as calm as ever.

I nod, resting my hand on my belly again. “Yeah, just... thinking.”

He walks over and places his hand next to mine, feeling the baby’s subtle movements beneath my skin. “About today?”

“About everything, really. The baby, the engagement, how all of this started. It’s just... wild.”

Luke chuckles and leans in to kiss my forehead. “It’s been a crazy ride, but I wouldn’t change any of it. Not a single thing.”

And the truth is, neither would I. As much as it still baffles me that I went from being Ryan to Rachel, from a man to a pregnant woman planning a wedding, I wouldn’t change any of it either. The app, the transformation, the surprise pregnancy, and now the engagement—it all feels like pieces of a puzzle falling perfectly into place. In some weird, twisted way, everything has changed for the better.

The doorbell rings, and Luke flashes me a grin. “I’ll get it.” He heads to the door, and within moments, the house fills with the noise of family arriving. My mom is the first to rush in and wrap me in a tight hug, her hands immediately going to my belly.

“Oh, Rachel, look at you! You’re absolutely glowing,” she says, beaming at me.

“Thanks, Mom,” I say with a smile. I can’t help but feel proud, standing there, pregnant and content.

Soon, the house is buzzing with conversation and laughter as more family members arrive. Luke’s parents greet me warmly, their excitement for the baby palpable. I look around, taking it all in—how different my life has become, but how right it all feels.

“Alright, everyone,” Luke says, drawing attention as we stand in the center of the living room, hands intertwined. “We’ve got some exciting news to share.”

I look around at our families, smiling, my heart racing. “We’re getting married!” I hold up my hand, showing off the engagement ring, and the room erupts into cheers and congratulations.

As I stand there, surrounded by family, Luke beside me and my hand resting protectively on my belly, I realize how happy I am. Not just with the baby or the engagement, but with everything. Seven months ago, I was Ryan. Seven months ago, I couldn’t have imagined this life. But now? Now I’m Rachel. A woman. Pregnant, engaged, and loving the life I’ve found myself in. And when I think about the future, I can’t help but hope for more—more kids, more of this strange and beautiful journey. Because, in the end, I’ve never felt more at home than I do right now.