My first story here, so be patient. If you like it I will try again, and I will try and cross categories but keep the same characters. All players when they arrive will be of legal age. I hope you like it. Constructive feedback and comments would be most welcome. Thank-you.
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Chapter 1, A Monday Morning
I want to tell you about something that happened a few weeks ago to me which was amazing. I think back to that day now and I still have trouble believing it happened to me. At the time it almost felt like a dream. But I know that it did, I know that I did not dream or imagine it, yet it was so 'not me' as the youngsters say. My name is Alison and I work for a small accountancy company in London. I am 39 years old and have been married to my husband, Ian, for 10 years now. I'm 5-8, with what everybody tells me is luscious red hair, and in pretty good shape, the guys at the office sometimes look like they're interested but I have that little ring on my left hand which I remind them of. Just normal office banter that's all, Ian and I are close. She wasn't obsessed with fitness but Ian often complemented her on her looks which was good. My work is interesting enough, I am on the consultancy side of the business and get to visit other clients. There is a fair amount of variety in what I do.
But this wasn't one of those interesting days, it was utterly routine. It was a Monday and it began just like any other Monday. Waking early with the birds as the window was open at long last spring felt like it was on its way. She was a little late getting ready for work and rushed, leaving the house for the bus at the last minute kissing Ian goodbye. The firm allowed casual dress and she had her usual smart jeans, heels, and a red tee-shirt/jacket combo on. Nothing unusual she thought to herself as she ran for the stop shouting "Bye, see you tonight." Catching her breath for a couple of minutes at the stop she thought back over the weekend. Ian had driven up from his work in London and they had spent a lovely two days together. The sun had shone and she had felt relaxed. Flagging the bus driver down when it appeared around the corner she saw the bus was half full, 'yeah typical Monday morning crowd' she thought as she sat down upstairs near the front. Glancing in the window she smiled at her reflection. 'Not bad for 39,' she thought to herself. The bus moved off and she fumbled in her bag for her book. A normal Monday morning with normal rush-hour traffic. A 25 minute journey she thought to herself glancing at her watch.
8:15am. Happily ensconced in her read she felt the bus pick up speed then slow again as new passengers got on. Returning to her book she heard footsteps behind her as someone sat down in the seat next to her.
"Hello," she nodded to the stranger. Turning her head she saw a young dark haired woman sitting there next to her. "Nice to meet you," the stranger said back and held out her hand. "Nice to meet you too," Alison replied and shook her hand.
Their hands touched. Afterwards Alison struggled to remember what it felt like. Not instantly unusual she thought, no sudden jolts. But the skin felt ... warm. Yes, warm. Anyway, she returned to her book and the bus continued on its way. And that was when her hand started to feel strange. It wasn't unpleasant, it just .. tingled slightly that was all. That was the best word for it she could think of at the time. After a moment she put her book down and flexed her fingers looking at them waiting for it to pass. But it didn't, it began to spread, and as the bus moved on to her destination the feeling moved across her wrist up her right arm. Now a little alarmed, she held her arm and massaged it through her jacket. The tingling had reached her elbows now and it felt wrong. Not unpleasant, but definitely unusual and wrong. The short walk to the office hopefully would shake it. But was she imagining it? The feeling if anything was accelerating now her whole arm was alive with the sensation and if she was honest it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. She stroked her shoulder as the tingling reached there. Tiny electric shocks coursed through her skin as her fingers rubbed her skin through the tee-shirt.
8:20am. "Is everything OK my dear?" her neighbor asked.