Impossibly Delicious

 A car drove past a billboard on the road that proclaimed “Try the BRAND NEW Impossible Burger at BQ!”. Inside the car, Stacy turned to her boyfriend Brendan.

“Do you think you’re gonna try the Impossible Burger?” Stacy asked.

“I don’t know. It seems interesting, but I’m a meat-eater, so I don’t see any time I’d want a vegan burger.” Brendan said.

“It would be healthier.” Stacy added. “And apparently you can’t taste the difference.”

“I’ll just have to see, although I’ve heard stories online that the burger makes guys grow boobs.” Brendan chuckled. “Something about plant estrogen.”

“That stupid conspiracy theory? It’s not scientifically accurate, and plant estrogen is in like a bunch of other foods.” Stacy said. “Besides, the only people who believe that are far-right lunatics.”

“I dunno, I guess I’ll just have to see if I’m ever in the mood to try it.” Brendan said.

A few days later, Brendan was taking his lunch break from the office, and passed by a Burger Queen. Walking inside, Brendan spotted a familiar face, his friend Luke in the line.

“Luke! What’s up?” Brendan asked as he joined Luke on the line.

Luke was a big guy, broad shoulders, beefy arms, and a lumberjack beard, truly a man’s man.

“Not much, just here to try out the new Impossible Burger.” Luke replied.

“Really? Never pegged you for a vegetarian.” Brendan said.

“I’m not, it just seemed like an interesting thing to get.” Luke said. “Plus, if I wanna keep these muscles, I’ve gotta stay healthy.”

“Good point.” Brendan nodded as Luke flexed.

After they ordered and received their food, Brendan and Luke sat down at a nearby table and started to eat.

“How is it?” Brendan asked as Luke took a bite out of his Impossible Burger.

“It’s incredible! It tastes just like beef!” Luke exclaimed. “Wanna try?”

“I think I’ll pass…” Brendan said. “I’m content with my chicken sandwich.”

“Your loss…” Luke muttered as he continued eating.

Returning home that night, Brendan sat down on the couch next to Stacy as yet another commercial played on the TV for the “Impossible Burger”.

“They’re really promoting the crap out of this thing, that’s the sixth one during this show!” Brendan remarked.

“I guess it’s really good.” Stacy said. “Have you had it yet?”

“No, but I ran into Luke today and he was raving about it.” Brendan said.

A few days later, Brendan decided to take his lunch break at Burger Queen once more, and got on line.

“Hmm… Maybe I will get the Impossible Burger today…” Brendan mused. “Then again, I feel like maybe I want the fish sandwich…”

“Brendan!” a voice shouted from behind.

Brendan turned around and was shocked by what he saw. Luke’s full beard was gone, and his hair, which seemed longer, sat messily around his face.

“Luke! Holy shit! You shaved the beard!” Brendan exclaimed.

“Yeah, I just felt like a change.”Luke said nervously.

“And your hair… it seems longer.” Brendan said. “It's only been a few days, is that possible?”

“I was running late after the gym and didn’t have time to brush, that’s why you notice.” Luke said, running his hand over his hair to smooth it down.

“I see.” Brendan said. “Back for another burger?”

“You know it! That Impossible Burger is so good!” Luke said. “You gonna try it?”

“Maybe another time.” Brendan said worriedly.

Later, Brendan and Stacy were laying in bed together as Brendan explained his concerns about Luke.

“I’m telling you, right after he ate the burger, he started acting weird.” Brendan said. “You know Luke, he loved that beard!”

“People can change their opinions about their looks whenever they want.” Stacy said. “Like if I wanted to be a brunette tomorrow, I could be.”

“I think something’s going on with Luke.” Brendan said. “I just hope he’s okay.”

A few days later, Brendan was arriving at the gym to work out, since he had to make up for all the fast food he’d been eating lately. As he arrived, he bumped into a person wearing a bulky hoodie and sweatpants, knocking them to the floor.

“Sorry about that.” Brendan said, extending his hand to help the person up.

The person took his hand and Brendan began to help pull them up. The hood fell back, revealing Luke, who looked emaciated compared to how Brendan remembered. His full face was thinner, his hair was much longer and messily tied back with some longer strands glued to his face by sweat, plus, despite the implausibility of it, Brendan almost felt that Luke was shorter than he’d been just a few days earlier.

“Luke?” Brendan exclaimed. “What happened to you?”

“Nothing, I think I’ve got a bug or something, but it’s fine, I’m working on it.” Luke said, his arms crossed over his chest.

Brendan’s eyes drifted and he could swear he noticed something straining against the hoodie on Luke’s chest.

“They couldn’t possibly be breasts, right?” Brendan thought, then aloud he said, “Luke, whatever the problem is, I’m there for you. Stacy too! If you need anything…”

“Just let it go, okay?” Luke's voice cracked, as he demanded, pushing past Brendan and rushed out of the gym.

Brendan could only watch with concern and dismay at what his friend had become. There was definitely something going on there.

“All right, all right!” Stacy exclaimed. “I’ll eat the stupid burger, but I still think you’re overreacting. I mean, what are the odds that all this stuff happened to Luke just because he ate a burger. We’d hear about this stuff on the news!”

“I know, I just… I need to be sure.” Brendan said, frantically. “Luke won’t talk to me, he hasn’t answered the door…”

“I know how worried you are about him. I am too.” Stacy said. “I’ll order in, you want anything?”

“Yeah, just get me a regular burger.” Brendan said.

A while later, the couple was sitting on the couch, eating the burgers. Brendan put the last piece of his burger into his mouth and swallowed. Stacy put down her burger and examined it again.

“It’s amazing! It actually tastes just like meat, you’ve gotta try it!” Stacy insisted.

“I don’t think so.” Brendan said, putting a hand on his stomach. “Even if I wasn’t full…”

“I just can’t believe it.” Stacy looked at the wrapper.

She turned to the wrapper that Brendan was quickly balling up. Her face fell and she grabbed it out of his hands.

“Hold on!” Stacy demanded, unwrapping the wrapper slowly. “Oh no…”

“What?” Brendan asked.

“I think they screwed up the order. I think we got two Impossible burgers.” Stacy replied.

Brendan started to feel nauseous, but pushed the feelings back.

“Guess it really did taste just like meat, right?” Stacy asked. “And listen, it’s like I said, whatever’s going on with Luke might not even be related to the stupid burger. Brendan? Brendan!”

Brendan couldn’t respond, he simply stared forward with a worried expression on his face.

The next morning, Brendan woke up, and immediately knew something was wrong. His chest felt like it was on fire! Brendan rushed into the bathroom and turned on the lights. He looked into the mirror as he examined his chest. His pecs were puffy and the nipples were red and swollen.

“What the hell is all this?” Stacy shouted from the other room. “Brendan! Why is there hair all over the bed?”

“Why is there what?” Brendan asked, before looking down at his body.

His normally hairy legs, hairy chest, hairy arms, they were all smooth and bare. For the first time, he noticed how cold the linoleum floor was as he felt chills going up his body.

“Did you hear me?” Stacy asked. “I said why is there…”

Stacy stopped in her tracks as Brendan turned around and she saw his chest and lack of body hair.

“What the hell?” Stacy asked.

The doctor looked over a clipboard of test results as he turned back to Brendan, sitting on the exam table fidgeting around.

“Well, this is absolutely incredible.” the doctor said.

“What’s wrong with me, doc?” Brendan asked.

“According to the blood test, you’ve had a sudden spike in estrogen, which is essentially causing your body to… for lack of a better term, go through a second puberty. Except it’s a version of female puberty.” the doctor said. “And you’re sure the only estrogen you’ve been exposed to was that burger? You didn’t accidentally take some of your girlfriend’s birth control pills by mistake?”

“The only thing out of the ordinary was the burger.” Brendan insisted.

“I see…” the doctor noted on his chart.

“Can this be reversed? Is it gonna turn me into a full on woman?” Brendan asked.

“Unfortunately, I can’t answer that. You’re the first case I’ve seen,” the doctor replied. “Your case is unique for the moment until I have a case study.”

Over the next few days, Brendan experienced slow changes, his hair growing, loss of muscle mass, and the swelling in his chest eventually graduated into being what Stacy qualified as A-cup breasts. At her insistence, he started wearing a bra. But the biggest change came on the third day, when he stood up from bed and discovered that he’d lost about two inches off of his height.

He’d given Luke enough space and hadn’t even tried to visit as he and Stacy were too preoccupied with figuring out what was going on with Brendan’s body. But now he had to find his friend.

“Luke! Open up! I need to talk!” Brendan frantically pounded on the door to Luke’s apartment. “I had the burger, it’s happening to me too! I’m freaking out and I need to know you’re okay!”

After a few moments, Brendan heard the door unlocking. He stepped back and looked at the floor as the door opened. In front of him, he saw a pair of dainty feet with painted toenails. Following it up the body, he saw a pair of shapely legs in yoga pants, a t-shirt covering a pair of C-cup breasts, and Luke’s face, all the features were there, just changed, and with makeup on them. A smaller nose, fuller lips, and long hair tied in a messy bun. To top things off, the friend who used to be inches taller than him was now dwarfed by Brendan’s 5’8” frame.

“Luke? Brendan asked, his voice cracking.

“I… I go by Lucy now.” Lucy replied in a higher voice.

In what was formerly Luke’s, and now Lucy’s apartment, the two friends caught up over coffee. Brendan watched as Lucy’s hands with manicured fingernails gripped the mug as she… there was no other way Brendan could think of Lucy, lifted it to her face.

“Is that part of it?” Brendan asked, motioning to Lucy’s fingers.

“Oh, the nail polish? No, they just grew longer.” Lucy said. “My sister Carrie did that. She was the first person I told.”

“The nurse.” Brendan remembered.

“Yeah, I figured she could help me, but she couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I didn’t even consider it was the burger until I had the second one and things started to ramp up faster. I mean, it’s been a few days for you and you’re still mostly male. I was way further along. “Lucy said. “That’s why I was so skittish at the gym. I was trying to… I dunno, sweat it out? Or bulk up my body? But it wasn’t working, and when I saw you… I was ashamed, I guess. That’s why I ran.”

“And you’ve just accepted it?” Brendan asked.

“Not accepted, but it doesn’t seem like there’s a cure, so I’ve got to make the most of it. At least that’s what Carrie said. She’d been a real help, buying me clothes, teaching me about being a woman.” Lucy said.

“Do you still have… you know?” Brendan asked. “Mine hasn’t changed yet but…”

“I’m surprised at you, Brendan! Asking a lady about what’s in her pants!” Lucy made a mock offended face, then softened. “It’s still there… but it’s shrinking, and hasn’t been much use. I don’t think it’ll just go away, but Carrie said if it gets small enough, I’d need surgery so that I can pee correctly.”

“Is that gonna happen to me?” Brendan asked, shocked.

“I don’t know.” Lucy said, grabbing Brendan’s hand. “Like I said, I had a double dose so my experience might be greater. Who knows? You might be able to reverse the changes.”

“I hope you’re right…” Brendan sighed.

“Do you mind showing me how far along you are?” Lucy asked.

“I guess not…” Brendan said.

Brendan stood up and pulled up his loose-fitting t-shirt to show Lucy his chest. She simply nodded solemnly. Things were far from over, this was only the beginning.

A month later, things were very different. Brendan and Lucy were no longer alone, countless men had come out to reveal that their bodies underwent a strange change after exposure to the Impossible Burger. The burgers were recalled, but apparently the change had something to do with specific genetic markers, so not every man who ate it was changed. Brendan envied those men as he stared at himself in the mirror. His breasts had stopped growing at B-cup, and Stacy and Lucy had encouraged Brendan to embrace femininity as no news of a cure was forthcoming.

Brendan wasn’t entirely convinced that he should give up on masculinity, but had conceded to wearing panties as the shrinkage began in his groin.

“It’ll be more comfortable, I promise.” Lucy said as Brendan scrutinized himself in the mirror.

The image was confusing to him. On the one hand, he looked like himself, it's not like his skull had changed shape, but subtle changes, his lips becoming fuller, his nose reshaping slightly and his eyes had even changed shape.

Brendan was even less sure of embracing makeup and hairstyling. Up to this point, he’d been content to leave his raven-black hair in a low ponytail, but Stacy and Lucy insisted on some modifications. Brendan pouted as Lucy worked Brendan’s hair into a french braid.

“Listen, I know it’s uncomfortable, baby.” Stacy said. “But you’ve got to start making strides.”

“I’m fine the way I am!” Brendan insisted, crossing his arms. His voice had gone up a few octaves in the last month.

“I was the same way, Stace.” Lucy said, walking into the bedroom. “Of course I was justified since only a few days ago I’d been a man’s man. Brendan, you’ve had a month to cope with this.”

“Maybe I just don’t want to cope, did you think about that?” Brendan snapped. “Maybe I don’t want to be a woman!”

“Baby, we know this is tough, but if there isn’t a cure, and it sure as hell looks like there isn’t, you need to be prepared to face the world as… Well, a woman!” Stacy said.

“Believe me, it doesn’t get easier.” Lucy said.

It was a similar fight a few days later, as Stacy and Lucy tried to get Brendan to pick out an outfit for work.

“You’ve already done the hard part, you told your job what happened, they understand because it’s a national crisis, and they’re prepared to make accommodations.” Stacy said.

“I just don’t see why I can’t wear my own clothes. My… male clothes.” Brendan said.

“We’ve already gone over that, for one thing, you’ve lost almost six inches since this whole thing started and your feet have shrunk, you just don’t fit into any of them, at least not comfortably.” Lucy said, holding out a skirt. “Besides, you should at least try one on. I ended up liking ‘em.”

“Well maybe I’m not you!” Brendan shouted. “Maybe you were never a real man anyway, if you’re so willing to throw away everything just cause you grew a pair of tits!”

Lucy stared down Brendan with fire in her eyes. Lucy’s fists curled, but she quickly unclenched them.

“I’m going to forgive you for that because I know how hard this all is, but that was uncalled for.” Lucy said. “I’m gonna go.”

Lucy dropped the skirt and stormed out of the room.

“Wait, Luce… Lucy!” Bredan tried to give chase, but Lucy had already exited the apartment.

Stacy came over and put her arm around Brendan.

“It’ll be okay, baby.” Stacy said as Brendan began to sob into her shoulder.

His first day back at work was an event, everyone walked on eggshells around him, some even afraid to call him by his name. Many of the victims, like Lucy, had changed their names to suit their new looks. Brendan wasn’t one of them. He was still holding on, wearing the bare minimum of gendered clothing, a simple blouse, dress pants, even his shoes, while a women’s style, were nondescript enough to pass for men’s shoes.

He clipped his nails as short as they could go, short enough to cause pain to prevent his nails from growing long enough to be painted or shaped. And in a fit of rage, he’d cut off a good chunk of his hair. It took Stacy and Lucy together to restore it into a proper short style, which, ironically, looked far more feminine than it had before. It was after that incident that both Stacy and Lucy insisted that Brendan go to therapy, as had been suggested for victims of the Impossible Burger.

The tension in the room was palpable as Brendan and the psychologist had a staring match. Neither of them spoke until the psychologist cleared her throat and spoke up.

“Why don’t we start with why you’re here?” she asked.

“Because Stacy and Lucy think that I need to be here.” Brendan replied.

“Who are Stacy and Lucy?” the psychologist asked.

“My girlfriend and my best friend.” Brendan replied.

“Let’s explore that. Why do they think that?” she asked.

“Because my body is changing into a woman’s and they want me to cope with it.” Brendan replied.

“And why don’t you want to cope with it?”

“Because I refuse to give up! I’m a man, I’ve always been a man and if I start acting girly, I’m just letting this thing destroy everything that makes me… me!”

“Your identity seems to be very tied into your presented gender.”

“Of course it is! If you woke up with a dick tomorrow, would you be okay with that?”

“I don’t suppose I would…” the psychologist chuckled. “But we’re not here to talk about me. You mentioned ‘giving up’, why don’t you explain that to me? Why do you consider adapting to be giving up?”

“Because it’s not right! I don’t…” Brendan started to sob. “Stupid hormones… I just want things to go back to normal.”

“We both know that’s not possible. And adapting isn’t giving up. If you had lost a leg, and insisted on walking around without a crutch or prosthetic, would that make sense?”

“That’d be stupid, if I don’t have the leg, I need that stuff to walk.”

“And if you don’t have your gender… Look, no one is saying that you have to go around wearing dresses and heels and makeup all the time. Not every woman does that nor should they be expected to. But at the same time, refusing to explore this new world you’ve entered is preventing you from growing as a person.”

“That’s what Lucy said…” Brendan muttered.

“And Lucy…”

“She’s another victim like me, only she went all-in on being a girl once she realized she couldn’t go back.”

“I see. And do you think it’s possible that some of your problems with adapting are related to how quickly your best friend adapted?”

“I guess it’s possible…” Brendan started. “Luke was the manliest guy I knew and then he just became a girly girl overnight! It’s not right! He didn’t even fight!”

“I’m sure that isn’t true. You said that you wanted things to go back to normal. Lucy simply changed her definition of normal, sure, this isn’t what you could consider to be ‘normal’ for a man, but it’s very ‘normal’ for a woman. Think about it.”

Brendan sat there for a moment and ruminated on what he’d been told.

It was a long time coming, but Brendan and Stacy’s relationship was over. At least the intimate aspect of it. They both realized it at the same time. After another attempt at lovemaking, despite Brendan’s performance issues, given the shrinkage he’d experienced, which ended in failure, they both laid back, staring at the ceiling. They turned to each other at the exact same time.

“I…” they said in unison. “No… you go first.”

“I’ll go…” Brendan said. “I appreciate how supportive you’ve been, and I still love you just as much as I did before the burger but…”

“I don’t have feelings for you anymore.” Stacy blurted out. “At least… not sexual or romantic ones. That’s what you were going to say… I could feel it. I feel the same way.”

They both frowned.

“I guess on some level, we knew this was coming.” Brendan said. “Right? The psychologist said that it was ‘normal’ but who knows what ‘normal’ is like this?”

“Yeah… But this doesn’t change that we’re friends. I don’t want you out of my life, and I hope that you still want me in yours. Although maybe one of us should take the guest room.” Stacy said.

“Lucy said she was looking for a roommate. I think I might take her up on her offer.” Brendan said.

“You’re just going to leave me? I didn’t want you to leave, I just wanted…” Stacy started tearing up.

“It’s not because we won’t be together. I just think it would be healthier. Wouldn’t it be super awkward if you start dating again and bringing home partners while your ex is in the other room?” Brendan asked, wiping Stacy’s tears away.

Stacy nodded. The two embraced in a long hug as they realized their formerly entwined futures had been severed from each other.

“Besides, the psychologist said that I had to find a new normal, and all this place reminds me of is my old normal. If I want to find out who I am now, I need a change.” Brendan said.

A few weeks later, Brendan and Lucy had formed new routines once Brendan moved in, making it a point to share breakfast together before they went to work. Brendan uncomfortably adjusted his bra strap through his shirt.

“Given any thought to my offer? Once this stabilized, going back to the gym was a first step back to normalcy.” Lucy said. “You can try out my yoga class if you want.”

“Yoga? That’s so stereotypical! Just because I look like this doesn’t mean I’m going to become a girly girl and I’m not gonna be doing free weights and rowing.” Brendan scoffed.

“I didn’t say that was all I did.” Lucy chuckled. “Either way, yoga is good for giving me a sense of balance. You could try anything, yoga, spin class, or just go back to the machines, though you’d have to adjust your old routines. Oh, I should let you know, I might not be home tonight. I’ve got a date.”

“A date?” Brendan asked.

“Yeah, this guy Craig from work, we’ve been talking for a few days and really hitting it off.” Lucy replied.

“You’ve been dating guys?” Brendan questioned. “That’s so gay!”

“Not anymore.” Lucy motioned to her body. “I haven’t felt anything from a woman for weeks now. It’s the next logical step. You and Stacy have been separated for a bit now, when are you going back in the field?”

“I don’t know… I’m not attracted to women anymore, but I haven’t felt anything for a guy… maybe I’m asexual now.” Brendan said.

“That’s what I thought, just wait.” Lucy giggled as Brendan rolled his eyes.

Later, Brendan walked into the gym in an exercise shirt and exercise pants. The shirt was bulky, but the pants unavoidably accentuated Brendan’s new curves. A sports bra underneath the shirt kept his chest bound, but Brendan still felt stares. Lucy had insisted, since his hair wasn’t really long enough for a ponytail, that he use a headband to hold his hair back, which Brendan reluctantly acquiesced to.

This was his first time back in the gym since the burger, and he’d lost a lot of muscle mass, owed mostly to the fact that the changes redistributed fat and muscle to create his new body. The changes had pretty much halted, so Brendan felt that now was the best time to work on bulking himself back up. His first step was to re-acclimate himself with the free weights. As he approached the rack, Brendan noticed a man standing in front of the weight that he wanted.

“Scuse me.” Brendan pushed past the man.

“Sorry.” the man stepped back. “Oh hey, it’s you!”

Brendan scrutinized the man’s face, not really recognizing it. It was the same sort of face that Luke used to have. Square jaw, beard, in a way, Brendan envied him.

“Do I know you?” Brendan asked.

“Not officially, I guess. I’m Marshall.” the man held out his hand.

“Brendan.” Brendan hesitantly shook Marshall’s hand.

“You used to come here a lot, I used to use the elliptical machine right after you.” Marshall said. “I noticed a lot of guys stopped coming. Not hard to figure out why. I’m glad that you decided to come back.”

“Yeah, so am I.” Brendan smiled. It was nice to find someone who didn't care about offending him.

“I’m a personal trainer… you know, and I’ve been helping a lot of people like you with new routines because of… you know.” Marshall stammered.

“Thanks but…” Brendan started, but remembered the talk with the psychologist.

”You need to find a new normal.”

“You know what? What do you recommend?” Brendan asked.

A week later, Brendan and Marshall were still trying out new additions for Brendan’s new routine. Brendan couldn’t bench press anymore, at least not yet, but they substituted a chest press machine to help build up his arms.

“And… finished!” Marshall said.

“Finally…” Brendan sighed as Marshall handed him a towel and a water bottle. “Thanks.”

“I think we’re starting to find what works.” Marshall said as they started to head towards the locker rooms.

“Agreed.” Brendan said. “But I’m still not back to full speed yet.”

“Say, this might be weird, but do you wanna get dinner, maybe discuss some workout ideas I had? Cause you’re the first person I’ve had who’s stuck with it as strictly, I was thinking of making it an official thing. Maybe you could help me refine it?” Marshall asked. “Nothing fancy, just a diner or something.”

“Oh!” Brendan blushed.

They had been spending a lot of time together, but only at the gym. But Brendan couldn’t deny how his heart jumped whenever he felt Marshall’s hands adjusting his position, or the hot flush he got when he thought about the workouts while sitting at home. Since his breakup with Stacy, he hadn’t done much in the self-gratification department, given the utter uselessness of his equipment. Not that Lucy hadn’t tried to convince him to try… other means.

”I’ve got some toys if you want to experiment.” Lucy had said.

“No!” Brendan replied. “I don’t think I’m ready for that yet, Luce.”

“Suit yourself. Of course, nothing beats the real thing…” Lucy giggled.

“Gross! I don’t wanna hear it!” Brendan covered his ears.

It was only a matter of time after his discovery of loss of sexual attraction to women that he’d discover a new focus for it. Much like the support he’d gotten from Stacy and Lucy, his friendship with Marshall had been helping him through the changes. So it was an easy decision.

“Sure!” Brendan replied. “Sounds like fun.”

As they approached the locker room, Brendan and Marshall stopped by the door to continue their conversation. As they did, Lucy strolled out carrying her gym bag.

“Hey guys!” Lucy said. “Just finishing up?”

“You know it!” Brendan remarked.

“So I’ll pick you up around six?” Marshall asked.

“Sounds good. See you then.” Brendan replied, blushing.

Lucy smiled as Marshall walked away. She turned to Brendan.

“Going out on a date with a guy? Isn’t that gay?” Lucy asked.

“Shut up!” Brendan blushed even harder. “It’s not a date! We’re just friends.”

“Sure you are. That’s why you’re redder than a tomato right now.” Lucy said.

“Oh my god… it is a date.” Brendan muttered. “What am I gonna wear?”

“Now who’s being stereotypical?” Lucy giggled.

Marshall pulled up to the front of Brendan’s apartment building, looking around for Brendan. He’d been expecting Brendan to be wearing baggy clothes like he had at the gym. He wasn’t expecting to see Brendan exiting the building in a midriff-baring blouse, skirt and heels. Nor was he expecting Brendan to be wearing makeup, as light as it was, it was noticeable. Brendan walked with full concentration on his steps, heading for the car. Clearly this was his first time ever walking in heels.

Brendan opened the car door and hopped into the passenger seat. He smiled as he turned to Marshall.

“Brendan… this is a new look for you.” Marshall said.

“Yeah, I… I figured I should switch it up a bit.” Brendan nervously laughed. “Do you like it?”

“It looks good on you?” Marshall said. “I dunno, you don’t look comfortable in it.”

“Yeah, I’m not. But Lucy convinced me to really get out of my comfort zone. I think I’m gonna stick with pants and flats in the future.” Brendan smiled.

“Do you want to go change?” Marshall asked. "I'll wait, it's not like we have reservations or anything."

Brendan hesitated a moment before he quickly opened the door to the car and hopped out.

“I’ll be right back, I promise.” Brendan replied as he rushed back into the building as Marshall laughed.

After finding his new normal, Brendan had changed drastically. He’d let his hair grow out and had it in a messy layered style with bangs. While he hadn’t taken to feminine clothing, he’d grown a healthy appreciation for hair-care. As he walked downstairs, wearing a pair of jean-shorts and a tank top, he passed by a few neighbors and waved to them, admiring his painted nails, sporting a sky-blue polish, another feminine affectation that he’d taken to after a night in with Lucy. Exiting the building, he approached Marshall, waiting outside for him.

“Hey, babe.” Brendan pecked Marshall on the lips while standing on his tip-toes, also sporting the same polish that was shown off in the sandals he was wearing.

“Ready for the big day?” Marshall asked.

“Yeah. This past year has been rough, but I think this is healthy to do.” Brendan replied.

“You know you don’t have to do it, right?” Marshall reminded.

“I know, but to be honest, at this point it feels weird not to.” Brendan replied. “Besides, it’s such a small thing now anyway.”

As the couple approached a local bar, they walked in, finding a table near the back occupied by Stacy, Lucy, and Lucy’s boyfriend Craig. As they sat down, Lucy placed an envelope on the table.

“Came in the mail this morning.” Lucy said. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah.” Brendan sighed, taking the envelope. “Before I open this, I just want to thank everyone for their support. Stacy, without you, I don’t know how I’d have coped with the changes. Lucy, you helped me learn to accept them, and Marshall, you showed me that change wasn’t always bad. Craig, you helped me the most, because you’ve managed to keep Lucy too distracted to make me over into a girly girl.”

The group laughed as Brendan used his nail to slice open the envelope and pulled out the contents.

“So, what do you think?” Brendan pulled out an ID card and showed it to everyone.

On the card was a recent photo of Brendan, but next to his picture was the word “Brenda”.

“I haven’t figured out whether I’m going to go whole hog on the pronouns, but I think my new self needed a new name.” Brenda said.

“I think that’s a beautiful name.” Marshall said.

“I still can’t believe that this all started because of a burger.” Stacy muttered.

“Yeah, if you told me this would be how my life would turn out…” Brenda started. “I’d tell you that was impossible.”

As they laughed, they also raised their glasses and toasted to Brenda’s new life.

The End