( WP ) The changing room . It 's an alternative to suicide or capital punishment . You walk in , and eight hours later you come out something else . Who is the man that enters ? What is he when he leaves ? What happens inside ?

“ Number 20, please proceed. ” 
 
 It ’ s funny how they ’ ve managed to store people ’ s consciouses and memories electronically and even figured out how to transfer them into Empties, but they still can ’ t permanently make people brains want to stop living. Or seeing, hearing, feelings things that don ’ t exist. Or doing terrible things to people and enjoying every moment of it. 
 
 And by funny, I mean fucked up. It ’ s fucked up. 
 
 But what can you do? 
 
 “ Your records indicate that your physical status is at 86 %. That ’ s quite healthy, especially for someone with a primarily sedentary lifestyle. Of course, any scarring and so forth will be removed during the procedure, so that doesn ’ t affect status percentages anymore. ” 
 
 Thanks for being subtle, Doc. I will admit that it ’ s nice to know that the next inhabitant of this body won ’ t have to deal with me at all, fuck ups or otherwise. A clean slate for them, a way out for me. Everyone wins. 
 
 “ Please change into the hospital gown provided. We ’ ll be with you in just a few moments. ” 
 
 At least they ’ ve made these so people ’ s asses don ’ t hang out anymore. It ’ s gon na be the last time I ’ m wearing one of these, huh? 
 
 Hopefully the last time this body will have to wear one of these, I guess. 
 
 “ The room is ready for you now. Please come with me. ” 
 
 I wonder what he ’ ll be like. I wonder if he ’ ll be able to integrate into society, all Switchers usually have issues with that kind of thing. 
 
 “ Please sit in the chair and we ’ ll just strap you down. Excellent. Do you have any last words? ” 
 
 No point in telling them to the doctor when I ’ ve already recorded a message like you ’ re supposed to. All those videos and voice recordings of Switchees on the Internet, all mandatory. Strange how all those people don ’ t exist anymore. 
 
 Soon, I won ’ t exist anymore. 
 
 “ When the procedure begins, the lights will turn off automatically, so don ’ t panic, that means it ’ s going as planned. It ’ s likely that you ’ ve be conscious for the first half, about four hours, but press this button if the lights turn back on and the procedure hasn ’ t been completed. ” 
 
 Door closes, lights off. My mind feels... strange. Like it ’ s being physically prodded. Huh. 
 
 I... don ’ t remember any of this, but these are my memories, aren ’ t they? All the little things that your brain stores away without you knowing. 
 
 It was cloudy that day? I forgot to tell him that? There are... so many things. So many things. 
 
 Slightly more important things. The name of the barista who gave me his number last month even though the stamp is on the back of my neck and both wrists. The day when my sister got married. 
 
 Oh, I think we ’ re moving on to bigger things now. First day of high school... yeah, that was embarrassing and unpleasant. The day that her daughter had to be Uploaded because medicine hasn ’ t advanced as far as we thought it would. When I became estranged from my family, sans my sister. Day I decided to do this. 
 
 Sensations: the smell of his hair her smile as she kissed me her hands on my back the way she cupped my jaw his strength when he helped me up his whispers that it ’ ll be alright, you ’ ll be okay, his hand in mine his arms around me when he found out in spite of the brand new metal on his finger – 
 
 Joy worry disappointment surprise boredom anger frustration ecstasy pain nothing nothing nothing – 
 
 I ’ m sorry I can ’ t I tried so fucking hard, I really did, I just wanted to – 
 
 The last thing I heard was an explosion, energy pulsing outwards and destroying everything in its path, myself included. 
 
 Where am I? How did I survive, I thought – 
 
 I startle awake and take note of my surroundings. Bright, clean, sleek, modern, nothing like the worn down buildings or torn up earth that I ’ m used to. 
 
 Is this English? Have I forgotten... no, it ’ s there. Just... less there, on the side. 
 
 A woman in a suit enters through some sort of door that slides out of her way and undoes the metal keeping me in this chair. I didn ’ t even notice that it was there. 
 
 She smiles at me. “ Hello, I ’ m your doctor. Please come with me. ” 
 
 I test out my new legs, examine my new arms. I can feel all of it, the muscles as I clench and unclench my hands, the way the hair on my legs is raised in the cool of the room. Everything is so... intense. There ’ s so much sensation. What happened? I have so many questions. 
 
 I tell her so. She laughs politely. 
 
 “ Well, we ’ ll have answers for you. Just come with me and I ’ ll explain everything. ” 
 
 Whose body is this? 
 
 “ It ’ s yours now. The previous owner decided to give someone else a chance at life again. ” 
 
 So I died, then he died so I could live again? 
 
 Her smile is slightly strained. “ We prefer the term ‘ Switched ’ here. ” 
 
 All these nice terms. Liberated instead of invaded and taken over, cleansing instead of genocide. This new world is essentially the same, isn ’ t it? 
 
 “ Change into these clothes. We ’ ll have your advisor come in to explain everything and answer any questions you may have. ” 
 
 Regardless of the world, I can try again. I get another chance, a better one. 
 
 I wish I could tell him what he ’ s done.
