Chapter Seven: Returning Home

The drive home was quiet, the tension in the car palpable. David leaned against the window, watching the familiar streets roll by, but his thoughts were far from comforting. The doctor’s words echoed in his mind, and though his parents tried to keep the conversation light, the weight of the unknown loomed over them.

When they finally pulled into the driveway, David sighed and stepped out of the car. His oversized sneakers slapped awkwardly against the pavement, a reminder of just how much his body had changed. By the time he reached the door, he was holding up his shorts with one hand to keep them from falling completely.

Once inside, he trudged to his room, closing the door behind him. He first grabbed a pair of sweatpants from his drawer, hoping the elastic waistband would help. No luck—they slipped right off his hips, pooling around his ankles.

“Great,” he muttered under his breath. “Not even sweatpants.”

He rummaged through his drawers, pulling out shirts, shorts, and pants, only to be met with the same problem. Everything was too big. His T-shirts hung on him like oversized tunics, and his underwear practically slid off the moment he moved. Frustration surged within him, and he flung one of the shirts onto the floor in a fit of helplessness.

“What the hell am I supposed to do?” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. The absurdity of it all felt overwhelming. He didn’t have a single piece of clothing that fit, and the thought of wearing his sister’s clothes, even temporarily, felt humiliating.

The knock on his door startled him. “David?” It was his mom’s voice, soft and hesitant. “Can I come in?”

He hesitated, glancing at the mess of clothes on the floor, but eventually sighed. “Yeah, sure.”

She stepped inside, her gaze immediately landing on the pile of too-large clothes. Her face softened as she looked at him, standing there in baggy sweatpants he had to hold up with one hand. “I know this is hard,” she said gently. “But we’ll figure it out.”

“Will we?” David asked, his voice tinged with frustration. “Because right now, I don’t even have clothes that fit. Hell, even my underwear’s too big.”

His mom gave him a small, sympathetic smile. “We’ll go shopping tomorrow. For now, we can borrow some of Kelly’s smaller stuff. Just until we get you something of your own.”

David groaned, but he knew she was right. “Fine,” he muttered, though the thought of wearing his sister’s clothes made him cringe.

“Hey,” his mom said, stepping closer and putting a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll take it one step at a time, okay? We’re here for you.”

David nodded, though the knot of uncertainty in his chest didn’t loosen. As his mom left to talk to Kelly, he sat down on the edge of his bed, staring at the pile of clothes that no longer belonged to him. Whatever was happening to him, it wasn’t over—and he had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

David’s room was quiet as he sat on the bed, his eyes drifting toward the mysterious scroll that had come with the medallion. It rested innocently on his desk, its ornate patterns glinting faintly in the light. After days of ignoring it, curiosity got the better of him. Slowly, he reached for it, unrolling it with care.

Initially, the text seemed strange, a collection of intricate characters that should have been indecipherable. But as David looked closer, the words became clear, flowing into his mind as if he were reading plain English. The contents puzzled him—it spoke of wind, the moon, and the other elements in cryptic phrases that didn’t quite connect.

The scroll pulsed with a sudden, brilliant flash of light when he finished the last line. David’s vision blurred, and he felt himself falling backward. His body hit the floor, limp and unresponsive.

“David!” his mother’s voice pierced through the haze, filled with panic, but he couldn’t respond. His senses were overwhelmed as a sharp, searing pain exploded in his head. It was as if knowledge—vast, incomprehensible knowledge—was being forced into his brain, each fragment passing through his consciousness too quickly to grasp. Images, symbols, and ideas flickered like a rapid slideshow, leaving him breathless and disoriented.

The flood of information seemed never-ending, each moment stretching into eternity. David struggled to focus, to make sense of what he was seeing, but it was too much. After what felt like an eternity, the deluge stopped as abruptly as it had started. Silence enveloped him, and his mind slowly began to clear.

He blinked his eyes open, his vision adjusting to see his mother lying on top of him, tears streaming down her face. Kelly and his dad hovered nearby, their faces pale with worry. The weight of their fear pressed on him, but the worst of the pain had already faded. Their relief was palpable, washing over him like a soothing balm.

“I’m alright,” David murmured, his voice hoarse. He tried to sit up, wincing slightly as his mom clung to him. “It was just a minor overload of information.”

His mom pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face full of disbelief and relief. “David, you collapsed! We thought—” Her shock was a testament to the depth of her concern.

“I know,” he interrupted softly, his gaze drifting to the scroll still lying open on the desk. “It was… the scroll. It did something. I don’t even know how to explain it.”

Kelly stepped closer, her arms crossed, but her concern was evident. “David, whatever just happened, it wasn’t normal. You scared the hell out of us.”

David nodded, swallowing hard. “I know. I’ll figure it out—I promise.” His determination was palpable, a beacon of hope in the midst of uncertainty.

His dad helped him to his feet, his grip steady but his expression still grim. “Whatever this is, son, we’re going to deal with it together. But no more messing with that scroll until we know more.” The unity in his family's stance was a comforting reassurance in the face of the unknown.

David agreed, though his mind was already racing with questions. The information that had been forced into his head was there, lingering just out of reach. He couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever he had just experienced was only the beginning.

David's mom stared at the scroll, still lying on his desk, her brow furrowed. “Is that the scroll you were reading?” she asked.

His dad stepped closer, picking it up carefully. He turned it over in his hands and frowned. “There’s nothing on the scroll,” he said, his voice tinged with confusion.

“What?” David said sharply, hurrying over. He grabbed the scroll from his dad’s hands and unrolled it. Sure enough, the intricate text he had seen earlier was gone. The parchment was completely blank.

“No, that’s impossible,” David muttered, his heart racing. He scanned the scroll again, flipping it over, but there was nothing—no text, no markings, nothing.

As he stood there staring, the scroll began to crumble. Tiny fragments flaked away, the material disintegrating into dust in his hands. “No, no, no!” David exclaimed, trying to hold it together, but it was useless. Within seconds, the scroll was gone, leaving only a fine layer of dust on his fingers.

His family stood in stunned silence, watching the last remnants fall to the floor. “What just happened?” Kelly finally asked, her voice breaking the quiet.

David stared at his empty hands, his mind racing. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “But I think… I think it did what it was meant to do.”

David stared at the dust in his hands, and as his mind began to clear, knowledge bubbled to the surface unbidden, as though it had always been there. The scroll, he realized, wasn’t just a decorative piece or a relic. It was a single-use spell; its purpose was fulfilled when he read and activated it. Once used, it was designed to vanish, its magic spent.

“It was supposed to happen,” David said aloud, his voice steady despite the unease in his chest.

“What do you mean?” his mom asked, her voice trembling with worry.

David looked at her, then at his dad and Kelly, who were both watching him intently. “The scroll—it wasn’t meant to last. It was a spell, a one-time thing. Once it did what it was supposed to, it… disappeared.”

Kelly’s eyes widened. “A spell? Like, actual magic?”

David nodded, his thoughts still racing. “Yeah. I don’t know how I know, but I just… do. It’s like the scroll put the knowledge in my head when I read it.”

His dad crossed his arms, his expression torn between disbelief and concern. “What kind of spell are we talking about? What did it do to you?”

David hesitated, glancing down at his hands. “I don’t know everything yet, but it felt like… like it unlocked something. Something in me.” He looked back up, his voice quieter. “I think this is only the beginning.”

David's dad gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading out the door, his tie slightly askew from rushing. "I’ll check in during lunch," he said firmly. "Call me if anything changes."

David nodded, appreciating his dad’s calm demeanor, even though he could see the worry etched on his face.

After his dad left, his mom put down her phone and turned to David. “I just told work I’m taking three weeks off,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “I need to be here for you right now.”

“Three weeks?” David asked, his eyebrows shooting up. “Mom, you don’t have to—”

“I do,” she interrupted, her voice soft but resolute. “Whatever’s happening to you isn’t something you should face alone. I’m not going anywhere until we figure this out.”

David looked at her, the warmth in her gaze easing some of the tension in his chest. “Thanks, Mom,” he said quietly.

She nodded, giving him a small smile. “Let’s take it one day at a time, okay? We’ll figure this out together.”

David stared at the clothes his mom handed him, his face flushing with both embarrassment and disbelief. The T-shirt was a snug white top with three-quarter sleeves, and the shorts were tiny exercise shorts that barely seemed to cover anything. As he held them up for inspection, a pair of his sister’s panties slipped out and landed on the bed.

“Mom, seriously?” he groaned, rubbing his temples.

His mom crossed her arms, her expression mixed with sympathy and determination. “It’s temporary, David. Until we get you your own clothes. You can’t walk around in clothes that keep falling off.”

David sighed heavily, knowing she wasn’t going to back down. Begrudgingly, he changed into the outfit, trying not to think about how ridiculous he felt. When he finally looked at himself in the mirror, his eyes widened. The clothes didn’t just fit—they fit perfectly. The shirt hugged his frame, and the shorts rested snugly on his hips.

“Crap,” he muttered, staring at his reflection. “They fit me perfectly.”

His mom stepped into the doorway, her gaze softening. “It’s not ideal, I know. But it works for now.” She hesitated before adding, “You look fine, sweetie.”

David groaned again, running a hand through his hair. “I look like a… I don’t even know. Let’s just get this over with.”

His mom smiled faintly, sensing his discomfort but choosing not to comment further. “We’ll fix this soon, I promise,” she said as she turned away. “Come on, breakfast is waiting.”

David stared at his reflection in the mirror one last time, shaking his head. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath.

His mom’s voice called from the hallway, “Lunch is waiting, David. Come eat before it gets cold.”

With a resigned sigh, he stepped out of his room. The snug shirt and tiny shorts made him feel exposed, but he couldn’t argue with the fact that they fit. As he headed to the kitchen, he tried to ignore how the clothes felt against his skin and focused instead on the smell of food wafting through the house.

As David walked into the kitchen, Kelly was already sitting at the table, scrolling through her phone. She glanced up absentmindedly, but her jaw dropped the moment she saw him.

“Whoa,” she blurted out, her phone slipping from her fingers onto the table. “David… are those my clothes?”

David groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, Mom said it was temporary until we get something else.”

Kelly stared at him, her eyes widening further. “I didn’t think they’d actually… fit you that well.” Her tone was equal parts shock and disbelief.

David sank into the chair across from her, glaring half-heartedly. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kelly. That makes me feel so much better.”

She snapped out of her daze, shaking her head. “No, I mean… it’s just… wow. You look like—” She paused, trying to find the right words. “You actually look good in them. Like, really good.”

David buried his face in his hands. “This day keeps getting better and better.”

Kelly smirked, though her eyes still held a hint of concern. “Don’t worry, bro. We’ll figure this out. But, seriously… those shorts? They were mine from eighth grade. And they fit you perfectly.”

David groaned again, deciding to focus on the food in front of him rather than his sister’s astonished expression.

David groaned again as he pulled at the snug shirt. “I’m never leaving the house again,” he grumbled, sinking into his chair.

Kelly couldn’t hold back a laugh this time. “Oh, come on, it’s not that bad,” she teased. “I mean, those were from my freshman year, and they fit you like they’re yours.”

David’s face flushed, and he buried it in his hands. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

Kelly shrugged, still grinning. “I’m just saying, you’re rocking the look, bro. Or... maybe I should start calling you sis?”

“Kelly, not helping,” David snapped, glaring at her from behind his hands.

Their mom walked in, setting down a plate of food. “Enough, Kelly,” she said gently but firmly. “David’s going through enough as it is.”

Kelly raised her hands in mock surrender, though the playful grin didn’t leave her face. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave—for now.”

David sighed deeply, picking up a fork. “This day just keeps getting better.”

David sighed after finishing his lunch, his mind still preoccupied with the absurdity of his situation. The snug clothes, while embarrassing, were undeniably comfortable. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but they actually feel… nice? He thought begrudgingly.

Curiosity gnawed at him, and before he could overthink it, he made his way to Kelly’s room. He spotted a pair of sneakers sitting by her bed and hesitated momentarily before slipping one on.

It slid on effortlessly.

His breath caught as he stared down at his foot in disbelief. “Oh god,” he whispered, trying the other shoe. It fit perfectly—like it had been made for him. He glanced at the tag inside. Size 7. A woman’s size 7.

He sat down heavily on her bed, staring at his feet. “This cannot be happening,” he muttered to himself. But the snug fit of the shoes was impossible to deny.

Kelly walked into her room and stopped in her tracks, her eyebrows shooting up as she saw David sitting on her bed with a pair of her sneakers on his feet. A smirk spread across her face.

“David,” she said with mock seriousness, “if you wanted to play dress-up, all you had to do was ask.”

David looked up at her, clearly frustrated. “No,” he snapped, his voice tinged with irritation. “I was checking. Your clothes fit, so I wanted to see if your shoes fit too. And guess what? I’m a size 7. Just like you.”

Kelly leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms, her smirk deepening. “Well, at least you have good taste. My shoes are cute.”

David groaned, slipping the shoes off and tossing them to the side. “This isn’t funny, Kelly.”

“Maybe not to you,” she replied with a chuckle. “But, bro—or should I say sis—this is kind of hilarious from where I’m standing.”

David sat on Kelly’s bed, staring at the sneakers he had just taken off, his thoughts swirling. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice quiet but heavy. “I’m turning into a girl, aren’t I?”

Kelly’s teasing expression softened. She stepped closer, her arms dropping to her sides. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice honest but careful. “But… it looks that way.”

David’s shoulders slumped as the reality of her words sank in. Kelly continued, “I’m pretty sure the doctors have realized it too, but they probably didn’t want to say anything yet. They don’t want to make you feel worse.”

David looked up at her, his frustration and confusion evident in his eyes. “This isn’t normal, Kelly. None of this makes sense.”

“I know,” she said softly, sitting down beside him. “But you’re still you, okay? Whatever’s happening, we’ll figure it out. Together.”

Kelly smiled softly, trying to lighten the mood. “Wanna watch a movie with me?” she asked.

David sighed, standing up from her bed. “Sure, but first, I might as well update Mom on my shoe size,” he muttered, glancing at the sneakers on the floor.

Kelly chuckled. “She’ll love that. ‘Hey, Mom, by the way, I wear a size 7 now.’ Totally normal.”

David rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smirking a little. “Yeah, totally normal. Let’s just get this over with.”

"Mom," David calls. I figured out my shoe size. I'm a size 7 like Kelly."

Mom asked, "Okay, I'm going to the store to get you some clothes to wear for now. What color shoes do you want?"

Without a second thought, David replied, "Purple."

David’s mom watched him walk off toward the living room, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. She grabbed her purse and keys, mulling over his casual answer of “purple” when asked about the shoe color.

Purple? That was quick, she thought. It wasn’t even like he hesitated. Is this part of whatever’s happening? Is he really becoming more feminine?

As she drove to the store, her thoughts lingered on the subtle shifts she’d noticed in him—his posture, his gestures. His body is changing, but is his mind adjusting too? I don’t think he’s ready to process all of this yet.

When she got to the store, she headed for the girls’ section, browsing through racks with care. She picked out a few pairs of longer shorts, ones that wouldn’t be too tight but would fit him properly. She chose plain and comfortable styles for shirts—nothing form-fitting or flashy. He needs clothes that fit but nothing that makes him feel more out of place than he already does.

Satisfied with her selections, she added a pair of purple sneakers to her cart and headed to the checkout. She thought we’d take this one step at a time as she paid. Whatever’s happening, he’ll know he’s not alone.