Page 62 of Exchange of Heart

‘No way. I’m not sleeping out there. The car might get washed away.’

‘You could start a new life on an island far away from your father. You’d love it.’

He shook his head and followed the sign pointing to rooms one through to twenty down the hall. The fluorescent bulb flickered, and I wondered if we’d lose power here, too. I hoped not. The goosebumps coating my body were dying for a hot shower. We stopped outside room sixteen, the battered door no more inviting than reception. The nail at the top of the golden six was missing, and the number hung sideways.

Corey held the card against the sensor until the light flashed green, and the door opened, releasing a suffocating fake pinecone scent from an air freshener. I coughed as Corey walked my short legs through the narrow opening into the room, and wished I could jump into my small frame just a few steps ahead and melt back into my body. I was so close to myself physically, yet so far. Nothing more than a dream I couldn’t bring to life. Holding onto the hope of finding the umbrella tomorrow, I followed him inside and covered my eyes.

‘How bad is it?’ I asked.

‘How bad is what? The room?’

‘The bed,’ I bellowed. ‘What are we working with? A queen or a king?’

‘Well, ah…’

I peeked through my fingers at the world’s smallest bed. ‘It’s official. The Guinness Book of World Records are on their way to measure the dolls furniture.’

Corey sighed. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘The bed – it’s tiny!’

The small room had a double bed down the middle with bedside tables and a lamp on either side. A narrow desk opposite with a phone and wooden chair were the only other furniture. Next to the bed was a built-in wardrobe with white doors, and I grimaced at the lack of room.

‘We’ll fit. That’s all that matters,’ said Corey.

My brain scrambled for an ounce of understanding that couldn’t be found. All that matters? This giant body would be flush against Corey’s petite frame. We should be taking that into account, too.

‘I’m going to take a shower. I’m freezing,’ I said.

‘What are you going to change into?’

The cold droplets on my skin burrowed into me until I was an ice statue, frozen by the realisation I had no other clothes.

Shit.

I walked to the small cupboard and looked inside. Bingo. Extra blankets and pillows were folded in neat piles on the top shelf.

‘I’ll wrap myself up with a blanket, and we can ask reception to use their washer and dryer.’

Corey nodded. ‘Throw your clothes out of the bathroom, I’ll call reception while you’re in the shower.’

I yanked down the blanket pile and took one into the bathroom with me.

‘And don’t take too long. I’m freezing, too,’ Corey called through the door.

For a brief moment, I lost my mind as I considered telling him he could hop into the shower with me to warm up. After all, his body was nothing I hadn’t seen every day for the last twenty-eight years. Instead, I tossed my wet clothes out and stepped under the steaming water, to keep some much-needed distance between us. Learning a new side of Corey this week had rewired my opinion of him, but I still couldn’t figure out which side of tolerance and hatred to stand firm on. My body thawed as I held onto the sliver of hope for this umbrella. The roads were unlikely to be opened tomorrow considering the rain was still clattering on the roof, but we were halfway there.

Halfway to getting our bodies back, completing our exams, and never seeing each other again.

My spine tingled at the thought of never again seeing the face I now saw each morning. I climbed out of the shower and rubbed the rough white towel over my body, then walked into our room with the blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Corey was perched on the edge of the chair at the desk, teeth chattering, and bouncing his short legs.

‘Are you okay?’ I asked.

‘I’m f— f— freezing.’

Guilt ran into me like a road train, and I raced back to the bathroom and twisted the taps. ‘Start undressing,’ I called out.

Corey shuffled into the bathroom with stiff legs in his bra and undies. ‘Th— Thanks.’