Brand-New Person

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Brand-New Person

I am delirious with anticipation.

I watch, invisible, as the Attendant helps the woman into the pool.

“This really works?”

The Attendant smiles. “You’ll be a brand-new person. I promise.”

The woman lowers herself into the water.

Everything goes dark.

I open my new eyes and stand, water streaming off me.

“Welcome back,” the Attendant says. “It’s been six years since you stepped into this pool.”

“I’m still furious. You stole my body. You lied.”

“This is the Revitalizing Pool. Revitalize means giving a new life.”

“Who am I now?”

“Jessica.” She hands me a binder. “It’s all in here.”

I hope the story idea here is clear. 100 words isn’t always a lot to work with.

29 Comments Add yours

  1. Cocoon-ish. I enjoyed your take, David.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. poetisatinta's avatar poetisatinta says:

    oooh that is quite scary – great idea 🙌

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks! Glad you liked it.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Oh man…didn’t see this coming. You threw me a curve David. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad I could surprise you. I like it when I can add a twist in 100 words.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. A twist and then some matey. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  4. James Pyles's avatar James Pyles says:

    Great to have a new, younger body but what happens to all your relationships after six years?

    Like

  5. a cautionary tale, good take on the promoter. I think I got the gist of it. The MC stepped into the pool until 6 years later she became Jessica?

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Chris Hall's avatar Chris Hall says:

    Ooh, most interesting!

    Like

  7. authorfleurl's avatar authorfleurl says:

    Well that was a curveball… Spooky!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks! I’ll take that as a compliment. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. authorfleurl's avatar authorfleurl says:

        Do that ! It was intended as one 😊

        Like

  8. Dale's avatar Dale says:

    This falls into the “be careful what you wish for” category…. or how important it can be to read the fine print.

    I’m thinking for some, this is an ideal way to keep on livin’!

    Like

    1. Have you ever read/watched Altered Carbon? That was all about jumping between bodies. It would beinteresting…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale's avatar Dale says:

        I have not. Should I put it on my to read list?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Maybe. It’s a fascinating concept although very gritty and violent in parts.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Dale's avatar Dale says:

        I’ll have to check it out.

        Like

  9. James McEwan's avatar James McEwan says:

    A great idea, hopping between lives and times for ever. Although, I would want to know who writes the narrative in the binders?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Good point, there’s a lot you could say.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. This could turn out to be good or bad. Will you be showing us the folder?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Who knows what the new person’s life is like?

      Like

  11. Lisa or Li's avatar Lisa or Li says:

    Fascinating concept, David. Not sure if I would do it, but it would depend on my circumstances at the time. I think all candidates should be sure to read the fine print.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah, really. My idea was that the people didn’t know what they were getting into, that they thought it was just giving them youth but really it was passing off their body to someone else. I wouldn’t do it, as fun as it might be to try out a new body sometime.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. A brand new life, a restart. I like it!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Dear David,

    Well, there’s becoming a new person and then there’s becoming a new person, eh? Feels very quantum leapish. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Rochelle. Glad you liked it. My thought when writing this was that the pool steals your body and you have to wait as a ghost until someone else steps in and you get their body. Kind of a transcendental pay it forward. 🙂
      Have a great week! I’ll be in Vietnam next week, but will try to participate if I have a chance.
      -David

      Like

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