Monday, 6 January 2025

Something Way Better

The setting sun bathed the beach in golden light, the waves rolling rhythmically onto the shore. I stood there, toes buried in the warm sand, one hand resting instinctively on my belly. Five months along, and the baby’s gentle kicks had become a constant reminder of how drastically my life had changed. It wasn’t just the pregnancy or the growing bump that felt surreal—it was everything. This body, this life, this relationship. Five months ago, I wasn’t even a woman. And now, here I was, Samantha—Nathan’s girlfriend and the soon-to-be mother of his child.

“Hey,” Nathan’s familiar voice called, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see him walking toward me with two coconuts in hand, his shirt open, revealing the tan skin of his chest. His smile was warm and easy, the kind of smile that had always been his trademark. But now, it made my heart flutter in a way I never thought possible.

“You looked deep in thought,” he teased, holding a coconut out to me. “Thinking about baby names again?”

“Maybe,” I replied, taking the drink with a small smile. “Better than thinking about that pineapple curry disaster you made yesterday.”

He laughed, his free arm sliding around my waist. The gesture felt so natural now, but I still remembered the first time he’d held me like this—how shocking it had been to realize how much I liked it.


It all started five months ago with a stupid bet. Nathan and I had been best friends since college, and we had a history of pushing each other’s buttons with increasingly ridiculous dares. When I lost our annual trivia showdown, Nathan had grinned that mischievous grin of his and said, “All right, the stakes are high this year. You have to be my date for the company New Year’s Eve party.”

I’d laughed, thinking he was joking. “In what universe am I putting on a dress for your work party?”

“Oh, we’re not stopping at just a dress,” he said. “I’ve got something way better planned.”

He wasn’t kidding. A week later, he showed up at my apartment holding a sleek, futuristic-looking device.

“What the hell is that?” I’d asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s called a Morph Device,” he said, grinning like a kid with a new toy. “I got it from this auction site. Supposedly, it can temporarily change someone’s appearance. Perfect for the dare, right?”

“You’re insane,” I replied, but I couldn’t deny I was curious. After a bit of cajoling (and a lot of tequila), I reluctantly agreed.

Nathan pointed the device at me, and within seconds, my body was consumed by a warm, tingling sensation. It felt like my very cells were rearranging themselves, my muscles shifting, my bones reshaping. When it was over, I stumbled, catching myself on the couch.

“Holy shit,” Nathan whispered, staring at me with wide eyes.

I turned to the mirror and froze. My reflection was completely different. Instead of my usual broad-shouldered, scruffy appearance, I saw a woman—soft curves, long, silky hair, and big, expressive eyes. My hands went to my chest, feeling the unfamiliar weight there, and then down to my narrow waist and rounded hips.

“This is temporary, right?” I asked, my voice higher and softer than I expected.

Nathan nodded, though he seemed as stunned as I was. “Yeah, a few hours. Tops.”

But those hours stretched into days. We realized too late that the Morph Device was faulty. By the time we got to his company party, I was still very much Samantha.


The party itself had been a whirlwind. At first, I was mortified. The dress Nathan had picked out clung to my curves, and I felt completely out of my depth. But Nathan stayed by my side, introducing me as his “friend Samantha.” The way he looked at me, his eyes lingering a little longer than they should have, made my stomach flutter in a way I didn’t understand.

By the time the midnight countdown began, the champagne had loosened my nerves, and I was even starting to enjoy myself. When the clock struck twelve, Nathan pulled me close and kissed me. I was too stunned to pull away, and before I knew it, I was kissing him back.

That kiss led to another, and another, until we ended up in his apartment, tangled together in a way I never thought possible. It was electric, overwhelming, and oddly... right.


The next morning, panic set in. We tried to use the Morph Device to reverse the transformation, but a blinking message on the screen read: Transformation Locked. Reversal Unavailable. Nathan was apologetic, but he was also calm in a way that helped me keep it together.

Over the next few weeks, we adjusted. I adjusted. Being Samantha was strange at first—navigating my new body, dealing with emotions that felt heightened, even alien. Nathan was there for me through it all, supportive in a way I hadn’t expected. Somewhere along the way, we stopped pretending the kiss—and everything that followed—had been an accident.

We decided to give a relationship a real shot, and for the first time, I wondered if maybe being Samantha wasn’t so bad. As a guy, I’d been single, stuck in a rut, and constantly comparing myself to Nathan’s seemingly endless stream of girlfriends. But as a woman? I had him. And, as it turned out, I had more than just him.


A few weeks later, I missed my period. When the pregnancy test came back positive, I was stunned. Nathan was too, but he smiled that same reassuring smile and pulled me into his arms.

The pregnancy itself was a rollercoaster. The first trimester was rough—nausea, mood swings, and exhaustion. Nathan was there every step of the way, cooking for me, rubbing my back, and reassuring me when I felt overwhelmed.

By the second trimester, things got easier. My belly grew, and with it came an unfamiliar but profound sense of connection to the baby. The first flutters of movement were magical, and I’d often find myself absentmindedly rubbing my bump, marveling at the life growing inside me. Nathan was endlessly fascinated by it, pressing his ear to my stomach and whispering to our daughter about all the adventures they’d have together.


Now, standing on the beach, I couldn’t help but think about how far we’d come. I turned to Nathan, who was watching me with that soft, familiar smile.

“Five months ago, I never would’ve believed this was possible,” I said quietly.

He grinned, pulling me close. “Sometimes life throws you a curveball,” he said. “And sometimes, it’s the best thing that ever happens to you.”

As I rested my head against his chest, feeling his hand protectively over my belly, I smiled. Maybe being Samantha wasn’t so bad after all.

I'm Not Ready