John slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the morning sunlight streaming through the blinds. Groaning, he rolled over to check the time on his phone. 7:03 AM. Time to drag himself out of bed and start another day.
He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. As usual, he was still exhausted. The nightmares had kept him tossing and turning all night. He couldn’t even remember what they’d been about - something vague about being chased or lost. But they’d left him drained, even after eight hours in bed. John shuffled to the bathroom to splash some water on his face. Looking in the mirror, he noticed the dark circles under his eyes. They were getting worse. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his messy red hair to look at least somewhat presentable.
This melancholy had been festering for months now. John didn’t have the energy to do much outside of work anymore. Even things he used to enjoy, like hiking or going clubbing with friends, felt like a chore. Something had to change, but what was he supposed to do when he couldn’t pinpoint the problem?
As John placed his empty cereal bowl in the sink, he came to a decision. When he got home from work, he’d look for a therapist. Sure, it wasn’t the most macho thing to do, but John couldn’t keep living like this. He needed to talk to someone - figure out why he was feeling this way. Maybe it was just stress from work, or maybe something more serious was going on. Either way, he couldn’t ignore it any longer.
John grabbed his briefcase and headed out.
*    *    *
John arrived at the therapist’s office a few minutes early. He sat in the waiting room, fidgeting with his hands. This was a big step - admitting he needed help.
Finally, the door opened and a woman stepped into the waiting area. She had flowing blonde hair, probing blue eyes, and a trim figure. “John?”
He stood, and as their eyes met, a spark of recognition flashed across her face. John didn’t catch it, though. He was too consumed by his own anxiety.
“That’s me,” he said, extending his hand. She shook it, a slight smile on her face.
“I’m Dr. Evans,” she replied, leading him into her office.
As he followed, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew her from somewhere. But he quickly brushed it off. After all, he’d met countless women in his life – and slept with lots of them. Who said gingers can’t get laid? he thought with a smirk.
After they sat, Dr. Evans asked him question after question, probing him on his personal life, work, and hobbies. John didn’t hold back on anything, including his partying and womanizing. Dr. Evans listened intently, writing on her notepad.
Finally, toward the end of their session, she sighed and said, “John, I think there might be something deeper going on.” She leaned close. “I think you might be trans.”
John sputtered. “W-What do you mean?”
“Your constant need to sleep with women, to prove your masculinity, to validate your gender identity. It’s all a facade,” Dr. Evans said.
John couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was she really suggesting he wanted to be a woman? A wave of panic washed over him.
“Remember in school when you used to dress up in my clothes?”
John’s eyes widened. The blonde hair, those blue eyes, that figure...it was all too familiar. It was her.
“Lisa?” John muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
A satisfied smile spread across her face. “I thought that might jog your memory.”
John was speechless. He’d dated Lisa back in college but it’d ended badly, with him cheating on her with her best friend. He hadn’t seen her since that fateful day, almost fifteen years ago, when she’d found out and broke up with him in a fit of tears.
“When I dressed up in your clothes? But t-That was for Halloween!”
Lisa, now Dr. Evans, looked at him, her face expressionless. “Yeah, but I remember how pleased you were with how you looked. Almost giddy. And the sex we had that night was out of this world. Remember?”
The sex had been particularly good that time, but John had thought it was Lisa who’d been extra eager, not him. He’d just been caught up in the moment.
“You need to explore these feelings. I think you should start taking estrogen,” she said, her voice steady, “just a low dose, to start.” 
“I... What? Why?” he stammered.
Dr. Evans gave him a reassuring smile. “It’ll help with your libido and it will bring out your emotions, which should you understand them better. Also, because you’re suffering. You’ve been trying to fit into a mold that isn’t you. This is a chance for you to explore a different side of your psyche. Maybe it’s not for you, but you won’t know unless you try.”
John was speechless. He was a man, he was sure of it. But then why was he so unhappy? After a long silence, he finally nodded. “Okay,” he said, “I’ll do it.”
A slow smile spread across Dr. Evans face. “Good. I think you’re making the right choice.”

*    *    *

After John left the office, Lisa loosened her grip on the pen she had been clenching throughout the conversation. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The satisfaction was immense. Yet, this was just the first step towards her revenge, but it was a big one. She had him now.
John, who’d once been a charming, carefree college boy, had left a trail of broken hearts behind him, including her best friend, Sarah. The memories of that dreadful night still haunted Lisa. She remembered Sarah stumbling into their shared dorm room, her mascara running down her face, the distraught look in her eyes. John had taken advantage of her, in the most horrendous way possible.
She gave herself a mental shake. That was all in the past. Lisa couldn’t change what John had done – but she could make sure that he’d never do it again.
The idea had seemed absurd at first, but the more Lisa thought about it, the more it made sense. John felt like he was invincible. He used his masculinity as a weapon, not caring about the damage he left in his wake. What better way to strip him of his power than to transform him into the very thing he took for granted?
Of course, Lisa couldn’t just outright tell him her plan. It had to be a subtle manipulation. She needed to make him believe that this transition was his own idea. So, she’d planted the seed, suggested that his depression might be due to his subconscious longing to be a woman. She’d seen the confusion on his face, the doubt, but he was desperate to rid himself of his depression – desperate enough to try anything. She couldn’t help but savor the thought of him questioning his masculinity and his identity.
But as the weeks turned into months, something unexpected happened. John began to change, both physically and emotionally. Lisa had expected him to experience mild changes on the estrogen – a reduction in his libido, softer skin, perhaps slight breast development. But the changes that came were far more profound.
John’s once muscular physique softened, his features became more feminine, his facial hair thinned. And his body started to take on a more feminine shape, his waist cinching in while his hips widened slightly. John also started to develop breasts, small but firm.
And the physical changes were just the tip of the iceberg. Lisa noticed a shift in his demeanor. He used to strut into her office, oozing confidence and charm. Now, his steps were more measured. He spoke less, but when he did, his words were more thoughtful, more considerate. His laughter, once boisterous, became softer. He was less aggressive, less dominant. He was becoming…gentle.
In their therapy sessions, he spoke less about women and more about himself. He started to express emotions he’d never admitted to before. He began to show vulnerability, something Lisa had never seen in him. He talked about his fears, dreams, and desires – not just for sex, but for connection, for companionship. For love.
As the months passed, John became more comfortable with his evolving identity. He started wearing feminine clothes, experimenting with makeup. He even picked a new name to use while they were in her office. Joanna.
Lisa watched this transformation unfold with disbelief. She’d thought John would resist the changes, rebel against estrogen, and stop treatment. Instead, he embraced his changing identity and began to thrive. As much as Lisa hated to admit it, John seemed...happier.
“Joanna,” Lisa said one day during their therapy session, “have you thought about making your gender change legal?”
Joanna looked at her, biting her lip. “I... I’ve thought about it,” she admitted. “But it’s a big step.”
“I understand,” Lisa said gently. “But based on our conversations, it seems like you’re ready to fully embrace this new identity of yours.”
“I…I guess you’re right. It’s not like I’m much of a guy anymore.”
Lisa’s thoughts of vengeance had felt increasingly distant lately, smudged out by how much happier – how much healthier – Joanna seemed. And wasn’t that the goal of therapy? To help them find their peace? Their joy?
“I’ve made my decision,” Joanna announced one day in a session. “I want to go through with the reassignment surgery. My cock has brought nothing but misery and heartbreak... for me and others.”
It was almost impossible for Lisa to suppress her shock. She’d never expected John – Joanna – to make this decision. Yet, hadn’t this been the whole point? To humiliate him? To strip him of his masculinity? But this felt different. Giving an abusive womanizer estrogen was one thing, but convincing him to undergo sex reassignment surgery was another. She’d taken this too far.
“I’ve made the necessary arrangements,” Joanna said, pulling a small note out of her purse. She delicately placed the paper on the mahogany desk dividing them. The note detailed the name of the clinic, surgeon, scheduled date of operation, and the post-recovery therapies she’d need.
“Joanna—” Lisa started. It was time to break the façade.
But the chance to confess never came. Joanna was too excited, speaking fervently about her transition, so full of hope for the future, that Lisa fell silent. She felt utterly trapped by her own scheme while, at the same time, she couldn’t help but marvel at the complex, inspiring creature her machinations had birthed.
Months passed and the surgery day finally arrived. Lisa, who’d been invited to accompany Joanna, experienced a whirlwind of emotions. This should’ve been the ultimate climax of her revenge, but all she felt was protective of this woman who was once the bane of her existence. As John, he was the embodiment of everything she despised in men – reckless, merciless, and unapologetic with a trail of jilted women left in his wake. As Joanna, however, she was vibrant, compassionate, and honest. This was a far cry from the man Lisa had plotted her vengeance against.
The operation was successful, and Lisa waited anxiously alongside Joanna as she recuperated. When she finally opened her eyes, she offered Lisa a modest grin.
“I did it, didn’t I?” she whispered, her voice raspy.
“You sure did,” Lisa replied, forcing a smile.
As Joanna recovered from her surgery, Lisa watched her transformation in awe. Joanna embraced her changed life with unshakeable determination and infectious joy. Lisa was drawn to her, not as the man who’d once broken her heart, but as the woman who was now healing her own.
One day, during what had become a regular coffee date at a local cafe, Joanna reached out and took Lisa’s hand. Their eyes met, and Lisa looked into a gaze filled with hope, gratitude, and something else.
Fear.
“Lisa,” Joanna said softly, “I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
Joanna took a deep breath. “Would you...” she hesitated, then started again. “Would you consider giving us another chance?”
Lisa was stunned. She’d never expected this. She’d planned to get revenge on the man who’d hurt her, not fall in love with the woman he’d become.
“I know it’s a lot to ask,” Joanna continued, her voice shaky, “and I understand if you can’t forgive me for the past. But I’m not the same person I was, and I’d like to think that I’m a better...person...now. And... I care about you. I care about you a lot.”
Lisa looked at Joanna, her heart pounding. The woman sitting across from her was so different from the man she had once known. Her eyes, once filled with selfishness and arrogance, were now filled with warmth and sincerity. The transformation was unbelievable.
Lisa’s voice trembled. “I don’t know what to say.”
Joanna looked down. “It’s alright. I understand.”
“No, Joanna, listen,” Lisa said, reaching out to lift Joanna’s chin. “I think I’d like that. I’d like a second chance.”
Joanna’s face lit up. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” Lisa smiled. “I admit, I didn’t expect this. Not after everything that’s happened. But you’ve changed so much, and I’ve seen you grow into this incredible woman. I’m proud of you.”
Joanna let out a breath she’d been holding, her eyes filling with tears. She reached across the table, taking Lisa’s hand in hers. “Thank you. For everything.”
She squeezed her hand. “Thank you. For showing me that people can change.”
Lisa’s revenge plan backfired in the most unexpected way. She’d set out to destroy the man who’d hurt her – and she had – but in the process, she’d helped create a woman who was as beautiful inside as she was outside.
Joanna was still grinning from ear to ear. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
Joanna’s green eyes sparkled. “Do you still have that dress I wore on Halloween back in college?”
Lisa blinked, then burst into laughter. “I think I might. Why?”
Joanna blushed, looking down at their entwined hands. “I was thinking... maybe we could try that again. But this time, it won’t be a costume.”
Lisa looked at Joanna, her heart racing. She felt a familiar heat spread through her body, the memory of that Halloween night flooding back to her. She hadn’t lied about the sex. It’d been amazing. “I’d love that – although your boobs are bigger than mine now, so I’m not sure if it will fit,” she teased, causing Joanna to laugh.
“We’ll have to find out,” Joanna winked.
“Tonight?”
“Tonight.”