A Meeting of Minds

"Sally, I think maybe our talents are merging or something. I can't explain it, but it seems like our ideals of each other's appearance are becoming permanent."

Sally is one confused camper. She reaches up and runs her fingers across my pate. I can tell that she's feeling god-like hair. My fingers join hers up there. I still felt bald. I look over at the mirrored wall at the edge of the Food Court. Yup, still rat-faced, but Sally's reflection is Lisa. Our bodies haven't changed; we're just seeing our ideals in each other.

"Bill, never mindhow this is happening – is this a good thing or bad thing?"

"You tell me, Sally. Which me would you rather look at?" I realize with a start that I'm thinking about how this will affect us in the long term.

Long term?

I can see that she's as conflicted as I am. I can read Sally's emotions on Lisa's face quite easily. Me? I want to be a sensitive human being and put all of those prejudices about people's looks behind me, but if I answer myself honestly, I would rather see Lisa's face than Sally's. I hate myself for that, but hey, it's how I feel.

"Will you hate me Bill? What I like best is what I see inside you, but I'm just selfish enough to want to keep seeing the Nordic god on the outside."

I sigh in relief.

"It's the Sally behind your real face that I'm falling in love with, but I sure like to see the prettier you looking at me."

Sally's beautiful brown eyes get huge at my words. Mine mirror hers, I'm sure. I didn't actually just use the four-letter "L" word, did I? I've known Sally for less than six hours! I'm trying to decide whether I should try to withdraw that heartfelt comment when Sally's face beams at me.

"Ditto," she whispers.

She really means it too. I suddenly realize that I'm not just guessing, I actuallyknow she loves me. I suddenly realize that our presence in each other's minds is becoming permanent as well. I can feel her sweetness settling deeply into me. It's like the missing half of my soul has arrived and is filling the place that I've been holding for it.

Because I can now read her every thought, I know for a fact that Sally's experiencing exactly the same thing I am. I feel myself beginning to settle into the place in her soul that she's unknowingly prepared for me.

I know with certainty just how sweet this could be. Sharing souls with the only person in the world who could know and love me like I know and love her. We would be soul mates in every sense of the word. We could spend the rest of our lives together and never need anyone else again. What could possibly be better?

Then a voice from the past tickles my memory.

"Sally, wait," I say, my ears telling me that I haven't said the words out loud. I know she's heard them anyway.

I hold back from entering her soul any more deeply. Sally does the same with me. I can tell that she's feeling the same reluctance that I am.

"Bill, I feel like I want thisso bad, but there's something wrong about it, isn't there?"

I nod. "Sally, I feel like it would be running away from the biggest issue in my life. It's taking the easy way out. Even though it would be the two of us, it's kind of like ... well ..."

"... Masturbation," Sally finishes for me. Just what Jill would have said. I nod again.

"I'm scared to death of what wereally need to do, Sally, but I think we both know what the right thing is, don't we." I can see the fear in her eyes. At least we're on the same page. Sally does me proud though; I can see the steely determination in her eyes.

"Okay, Bill. You do me first. Just please be gentle."

"You know I will be, Love."

Like I've done with a thousand women before, I enter her mind and carefully touch a little here and a little there. Sally's mind is so basically good that just a very few changes will make a huge difference. In less time than I would have believed, I'm finished.

"Your turn," I tell her, putting my very existence in her hands.

I can't feel Sally working directly, but gradually, many years of pain and anxiety are eased. I realize that the people around us are no longer making me uncomfortable; they're just other people. With sudden clarity I find that I could actually walk up to anyone here and strike up a conversation. I wouldn't even stutter! It they didn't like the way I look, well that would be their problem, not mine.

Sally has done it. After thirty-seven years, I'm free!

There are joyous tears running from Sally's beautiful brown eyes. "Oh God, Bill. I never knew I could feel this way. The world is a completely different place for me now!" But then I can see concern in her expression. "Just tell me that you'll still be in my world."

"Always. I'm here for you forever. I love you, Sally."

The happy tears are streaming down both our faces now.

"I love you too, Bill."

We walk out of the mall, arm-in-arm.

Author's note: I don't mean to condone any sort of non-consensual sex by offering up this story. Rape is repugnant, even in the mildest forms depicted here. So if you're one of those people out there running around using Charm or Thrall for nefarious purposes, STOP IT!! ;-)