That evening, after her eventful and generally positive first day at school, Emily returned home feeling a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. As she stepped through the door, she was greeted by the comforting aroma of homemade cookies baking in the oven—the warmth and sweetness acting like a pleasant surprise after the day of ambiguity.
The Daniel in Emily found himself unexpectedly soothed by the smell, a sense of comfort settling into her body. The reaction felt instinctual, not his own, but present nonetheless.
"Welcome home, Em," Thomas said with a warm smile, handing her a freshly baked cookie. "How was your day?"
Emily took a bite of the warm cookie, stunned at the oddly familiar sweetness, and then chomped down more excitedly. The taste brought back faint memories of happier moments from Daniel’s childhood. But as she chewed, a deeper sense of comfort rose to the surface the cookie evoking warmth far beyond a simple childhood memory
She shrugged, unsure of how to articulate the complexity of her feelings both about the day and her internal conflict. For a brief moment, some part of her wanted to blurt out “I’m not sure I’m your daughter - I mean I am, but I used to be a guy in another timeline doing my own thing and wham I’m here in this body! Did I die? Was I reborn? Is this the Matrix? Now I’m just trying to navigate life without sending myself to the loony house..”
Instead, Emily merely said “It was okay," she said finally, her voice small as her mind still processed everything that had happened.
Thomas nodded sympathetically. "New beginnings are never easy, but I'm sure you'll settle in soon," he reassured her, his tone encouraging. “You have no idea how true that is…” Emily quietly mumbled to herself devouring her cookie.
Sarah nodded understandingly. "Starting at a new school can be overwhelming, but you did great today. I'm proud of you," she said gently, her hand resting reassuringly on Emily's shoulder.
Emily did not flinch this time—instead, the touch was calming— as if her body craved the comfort more deeply than Daniel’s mind could explain.
Emily smiled gratefully, appreciating both Sarah and Thomas’s support. As she continued obliterating the cookie, she observed Sarah and Thomas interacting with one another. They seemed so comfortable and familiar, their easy banter and shared laughter a stark contrast to the uncertainty Emily felt inside. Yet, there was a part of her that didn’t feel entirely foreign to this dynamic. Something within Emily’s consciousness seemed to stir excitedly, unconsciously—a vague recognition of the family bonds they shared.
As they finished dinner, Emily's curiosity got the better of her. "Why did I switch schools? I did switch right?" she asked, looking between Sarah and Thomas.
Sarah sighed thoughtfully. "Well, the school district recently changed its boundaries, and our house is now in the zone for your new school. It wasn't something we planned, to be honest."
Thomas added, "Your old school was fine, but we heard some great things about this one. They have a reputation for being more inclusive and supportive. We thought it might be a better environment for you to make friends and feel more comfortable."
Emily nodded slowly, absorbing the information. It made sense and explained why she didn't know anyone at her new school. "Okay, that makes sense," she said, feeling a bit more at ease. She hoped that she wouldn’t run into anyone from her previous school, not any time soon, who may have inadvertently transferred over too.
After a while, Sarah suggested they watch a movie together as a family. Emily hesitated, unsure of what to expect. They settled on an animated film, and Emily found herself drawn into the colorful world on the screen, momentarily forgetting her worries. Even Daniel did like his cartoons and anime, after all. She watched with mild interest, but Emily’s body responded more naturally. She found herself laughing without overthinking it—a reaction that was becoming more automatic as each moment passed. The movie’s bright colors, catchy songs, and simple yet heartfelt story provided a comforting escape from the complexities of her thoughts. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the archaic CRT television unit, which had become extinct in Daniel’s universe.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
During the movie, Emily cautiously glanced at Thomas and Sarah, studying their expressions and mannerism. She tried to mimic their ease, laughing when they laughed and nodding along when they commented on the plot—but some of her reactions felt more organic than others, coming almost before Daniel could think to act. There was a sense of warmth that she felt - both as Daniel and her unconscious self, at their generous, easy going nature. In the short time she had know them, Sarah had been the kind of mom Daniel could only have wished for - gentle, firm, playful, encouraging - keeping Emily from falling into the pits of her own analytical mind. Thomas was the grounding force, bringing stability, guidance, yet there was no doubt that mischief ran through him as much as it did through Sarah. In some ways, he reminded Emily of an older brother, less a father - but she had no second thoughts about who would lay down the law if she crossed out of line. “I wonder when I’ll get into trouble for the first time…it is ..statistically unavoidable..” Emily thought to the Daniel side of herself.
After the movie, Emily turned to Thomas with a curious look. "I didn't know dads baked cookies," she said, her tone a mix of surprise and admiration.
Thomas chuckled, ruffling Emily's hair affectionately. "Well, this dad does. I’ve always enjoyed baking. It's a bit of a stress reliever for me."
"How long have you been baking?" Emily asked, intrigued. Most men Daniel had known were challenged by a simple TV dinner.
"Oh, for quite a while now. I started when I was in college. Your mom loves my cookies, so I kept at it," Thomas replied with a grin.
Sarah laughed. "It's true. He makes the best cookies. We're lucky to have our very own baker."
Emily smiled, feeling a warm sense of connection. "They are really good," she admitted. The praise felt natural—unfiltered.
"Your mom and I met in college—it was at a place called Stony Brook in New York," Thomas added. "I used to bake cookies for her during our... umm...study sessions," he ended, looking away with a little cough.
Sarah nodded, a nostalgic smile on her face. "Those cookies helped get us through some tough times. And they still bring back those wonderful memories."
Emily felt a strange mix of emotions—comfort in the warmth of their memories, a pang of longing for the simplicity of such moments, and amusement at Thomas’s course correction. "That sounds really nice," she said softly.
Later that evening, after dinner, Emily remembered her backpack and the homework she had been assigned. She spread her books and worksheets out on the dining table, her brow furrowed in concentration.
The act of doing homework felt oddly soothing, a familiar task that required focus and routine but was ultimately achievable. Sarah and Thomas watched with interest as Emily tackled her assignments. Emily struggled a little with the small, cramped handwriting typical of children, but her adult knowledge and understanding of the concepts allowed her to breeze through the actual homework questions.
Despite the awkwardness of writing with small hands, Emily found a certain joy in the simplicity of the worksheets. The satisfaction she felt wasn’t just Daniel’s…
"Well done, Emily!" Sarah praised, smiling warmly as she reviewed Emily's neatly completed worksheets. "You're quite the little scholar."
Thomas chuckled, ruffling Emily's hair affectionately. "Impressive stuff," he remarked proudly. "Looks like you may have this school thing down."
Emily blushed, pleased by the praise from her new family. It wasn’t just Daniel enjoying the moment—Emily herself seemed to glow under the approval. Despite the challenges of the day, she felt a sense of accomplishment and a growing connection to Sarah and Thomas.
As bedtime approached, Sarah helped Emily into bed with a gentle kiss on the forehead. The familiar gesture sent a wave of calm through Emily’s body—stronger than Daniel expected. "Goodnight, sleep tight," she whispered, brushing a strand of hair from Emily's face.
"Goodnight," Emily murmured, her mind buzzing with thoughts of the day. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, the events of the day replaying in her dreams. Her dreams were a mix of familiar anxieties and newfound hopes, blending her past with her present in a way that made her feel like she was finally beginning to heal. But in those dreams, Daniel felt a strange presence—a softer awareness in the background, as though Emily was waiting, quietly, for her moment to step forward once again.