The moon hung low over the horizon, casting a silvery glow over the lake. Its surface was still, save for the occasional ripple caused by the gentle evening breeze. The night was quiet, almost too quiet, as if the entire world had stilled to give them this moment. Caelan sat on the dock, legs dangling over the edge, staring at the water with a distant expression. The reflection staring back at him wasn’t his own.
Elise stood a few feet behind him, hesitant. She recognized the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers clenched slightly against the wooden planks. She’d seen that stance in the mirror more times than she could count these past weeks—it was his. The realization stirred something deep within her, a strange ache that was becoming all too familiar.
She took a step forward, unsure if she was offering comfort or seeking it. The grass was cool beneath her feet, but she barely noticed.
“You’re brooding again,” she said softly, her voice carrying in the stillness.
Caelan turned slightly, meeting her eyes. His expression was guarded but softened when he saw her. It was strange—he knew that physically, he was looking at himself, but everything about the way she gazed at him, the tenderness in her eyes, was unmistakably Elise. She always made him feel seen, even now, in this disorienting reality.
“Yeah,” he admitted. “It’s becoming a bad habit.”
She lowered herself beside him, letting her legs swing over the edge. Their arms brushed lightly, the casual contact sending an electric current through both of them. She glanced at him, noticing the way he avoided her eyes.
“Talk to me,” she pressed gently.
Caelan stared at the water. He didn’t know how to articulate the gnawing fear inside him—the fear that when this was over, when they were back in their own bodies, he’d lose her. That maybe she wouldn’t want him when she was back to being herself. What if everything they were feeling was a side effect of the swap?
But the words got stuck somewhere between his heart and his throat. Instead, he shook his head slightly. “It’s nothing,” he muttered.
Elise exhaled softly, sensing his reluctance. She reached out, threading her fingers through his, and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. His fingers, now slender and unfamiliar to him, curled around hers, holding on a little too tightly.
“It’s not nothing,” she whispered, her voice barely louder than the wind. “Not to me.”
He turned toward her then, and for the first time in hours, he let himself really look at her. The reflection staring back at him was his own face, but everything else was Elise—the warmth in her eyes, the softness of her lips, the tenderness in the way she looked at him. She was breathtaking. His pulse quickened.
Without thinking, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. His fingertips lingered against her cheek. She leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering closed for the briefest moment. When she opened them again, her gaze was vulnerable but open. The trust in her eyes made his chest tighten.
“I’m scared,” he admitted suddenly, his voice rough. “That this… us… won’t feel the same when we’re back in our own bodies.”
Elise’s breath caught. She hadn’t expected him to voice the very fear that had been gnawing at her heart. She stared at him, her eyes searching his for any sign of doubt, but all she found was raw honesty.
“Me too,” she whispered. “But… I don’t think this is just because of the swap. I don’t think I could feel this way by accident.”
Her voice was steady, but her fingers trembled slightly where they rested against his wrist. She wasn’t sure how she knew it was real—she just did.
Caelan’s throat tightened. He didn’t want to think, didn’t want to analyze the why or how of it anymore. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned in. His lips hovered just above hers, giving her a chance to pull away. She didn’t. Instead, she closed the distance, her lips brushing softly against his.
The kiss was slow at first, hesitant, as though they were both afraid the fragile spell would break. But when he felt her fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt, holding him closer, something inside him gave way. His hand slipped to the back of her neck, pulling her deeper into the kiss. It was tender and desperate all at once—a collision of longing and uncertainty, a promise whispered between their lips.
When they finally broke apart, their foreheads remained pressed together. Both of them were breathless, their hearts racing.
“See?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “This is real.”
Caelan closed his eyes, trying to commit the moment to memory—the feel of her lips, the warmth of her breath, the certainty in her voice. His hands slid down to cradle her face, thumbs brushing softly over her cheeks.
“I’m falling for you, Elise,” he confessed softly, his voice rough with emotion. “And I don’t care how it happened. I don’t want to fight it anymore.”
Elise felt her throat tighten, emotion catching her off guard. Her lips parted slightly, but words failed her. Instead, she pressed her lips to his again, answering with the same intensity.
The world around them seemed to fade—the lake, the moon, the trees—none of it existed. Only the warmth of his hands on her skin, the steady thrum of his heart against hers.
They had fallen asleep in the small cabin by the lake, tangled in the nest of blankets they’d made by the fireplace. The first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, painting the room in gold.
Elise stirred first, her eyes opening to find herself curled against Caelan. Her head was tucked beneath his chin, his arm draped protectively around her waist. She exhaled softly, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing.
For a brief, blissful moment, she forgot they were still in the wrong bodies. She forgot about the consequences, the uncertainty. All she knew was the warmth of his embrace and the peace she felt in his arms.
Caelan stirred slightly, his lips brushing against her hair. His voice was still heavy with sleep when he murmured, “You’re awake.”
She smiled softly against his chest, her fingers absently tracing small circles against his skin.
“I am,” she whispered.
Neither of them moved. The morning was too perfect, too delicate to shatter. She tilted her head slightly, and their eyes met. His hair was slightly tousled, his eyes still heavy with sleep, but the warmth in his gaze was unmistakable.
“Stay like this,” she whispered. “Just for a little while longer.”
Caelan’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He brushed a kiss against her forehead, letting his lips linger there. The simplicity of the gesture made her eyes sting with emotion. She knew they were living on borrowed time. Eventually, they would return to their own bodies. Eventually, they would have to face the consequences of whatever they were building between them.
But not yet.
For now, they stayed wrapped in each other, neither willing to let go. They didn’t need words. The soft caresses, the lingering kisses, the warmth of their embrace—it all spoke for them.
They were falling. Against all logic, against all reason, they were falling in love. And in that quiet, golden morning, they stopped trying to fight it.
Later that day, as they stood by the edge of the lake, Elise slipped her hand into Caelan’s. They didn’t speak, but they didn’t need to. Their bond had transcended the strangeness of their situation.
Caelan turned to her, brushing his thumb over the back of her hand. His voice was low but steady when he whispered, “No matter what happens, we’ll find our way back to each other. In any body, in any world.”
Elise’s eyes softened, and she leaned into him, her lips brushing his softly. “I know,” she whispered against his mouth. “I’ll find you. No matter what.”
And as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting shades of gold and crimson across the sky, they stood together—two souls bound by something that neither time nor circumstance could tear apart.