Opening the door from Mia's apartment building onto the street, Lily walked down the short staircase before turning to the sidewalk. Her only thoughts were about Demi taking up residence in her uterus, and if she made the right decision to help.
"Is that how you really sound?" Lily curiously asked the new voice in her head out loud. Thankfully no one was near, so she didn't have to fear looking like a crazy person. She could hear the same accent that she heard from when Demi possessed Mia, but her pitch was different. Somehow, she couldn't see how it belonged to a strange yellow slug creature.
'I guess so?' Demi sounded strained. 'I hope this isn't hurting you.'
Lily paused to let someone pass her before she spoke softly. Truthfully, she felt her body suddenly ache and tire but chose not to tell Demi. "Oh, it's fine. I can definitely feel you down there and it's not bad or anything. I guess this may be what it feels like for an early pregnancy? You aren't stuck there or anything?"
Lily could feel Demi laughing a little bit, before she replied. 'Ha yeah, I'll just be your little baby for now!'
She smiled as she instinctively ran her hand across her belly. She then felt a warm feeling across her midsection as if Demi was responding, it was very pleasant.
'Hey, I'm feeling pretty tired. Would you be okay i took a little nap?' Demi eventually brought up.
"Oh sure, that's fine." Lily said softly as she hustled up the steps of her apartment building. If something from wrong with Demi, she would rather handle it in the privacy of her home.
'Thank you, Lily.' Demi replied.
As soon as Lily opened the door into the hallway, an overwhelming sense of fatigue washed over her like a warm blanket. She went from active to being absolutely comfortable with shutting her eyes to sleep. "What the hell..." She said to herself. Normally, she could have taken the stairs, but she didn't think she had the energy and pressed the button for the elevator.
Since it was only 3 floors, the elevator came quick, and she leaned against the wall as she pressed the button for the top floor. Leaning her head back on the wall, her eyes closed until the ring of the door jerked her awake. "Jesus!" It startled her.
As she fumbled with her keys, she finally made it inside and closed the door. The keys in her hand fell loudly to the floor as she made a beeline for the first place she could lay down: the couch. As soon as her head hit the cushion, she was out like a light.
It was evening when Lily woke up somewhat groggy. 'Good evening roomy,' Demi says in Lily's mind, her voice sounding more cheerful. 'At least I think its looks evening...yep.'
Lily stretched languidly, as she was remembering the events of the day. She then saw she was drooling while she was sleeping, quickly using her sleeve to dry herself. She could hear Demi making a playful laugh.
'Hope you slept well' Demi said trying to keep dialogue open.
"What the hell did you do to me..." Lily said in a louder tone filling the apartment.
'Sorry. I didn't know what would happen.' Demi's voice immediately softened as she tried to say the right thing.
"I didn't know if you were dying or what. You got to warn me or something." Lily's voice finding agitation and frustration at the whole ordeal.
'Maybe this was a mistake...' Demi's voice trailed off.
Lily could feel a sudden sense of sadness which reeled her back to find some empathy. That and she could feel the mass in her belly start to slither downwards. "Wait, stop." Demi did it on Lily's command. "I didn't mean it like that."
'I know. It's just you're the first person to show me, the real me, any sign of kindness and I don't want to hurt you.' Demi's voice emphasizes each word.
"I understand. I have to know, are you okay?"
'Yes, I am. From what it seems like, we share this body in more than just voice. I don't control it, yet I can feel everything, see what you can, hear what you can. Our minds are connected, I can feel what you can...it seems that is a 2-way street.'
That made sense to Lily. These emotions out of nowhere, the tiredness and sadness were Demi that she was feeling, but she had to know. "Does that mean you can read my mind?"
'I don't think so, outside what you speak to me. I do know we can feel each other, that's how I knew because I could feel your...frustration.'
"Yeah, sorry this is just all so new to me." Lily said, leaning back. "So, if this is all new to you, does that mean you were expecting to control my body again?"
Demi knew that this was definitely a response she could not mess up. 'Pretty much, I suppose. My plan was to bring you back here and immediately get out of your body.'
Lily felt the unspoken words were right there. "So..."
Demi continued, 'If you want me out, that's fine. It's just in my normal form; I can't talk or communicate.'
"I see, no that's fine to be like this. Probably the best way to figure out what to do next, but we should set some ground rules." Lily said sternly.
'Anything.' Demi immediately acknowledged.
"No controlling my body."
'Absolutely.'
"No looking at me while I'm doing my...um business." Lily stuttered out.
'To be honest with you, I don't exactly have eyelids of my own. I see out of your eyes too.'
"Well shoot. I guess try to distract yourself?"
'I'll try my best.'
"Thanks. We'll see what we can do to figure out what to do for you." Lily promised.
'I really appreciate it.' Demi responded.
"You know, if anything I guess it would be nice to have someone to talk to. It has been a little lonely around here." Lily finally jested which Demi hummed back.
Lily's stomach grumbled loudly, breaking the new quiet. "Guess I should eat something." She got up to walk towards the kitchen, opening the fridge to examine its contents.
The only thing that was premade was the leftover pasta from Noodle Garden. "This should be fine." She opened it up to check for mold before putting it in the microwave.
Demi thought for a moment to add small talk. 'Pasta is always fulfilling. Smells good too.'
It humored Lily that Demi could also smell what she smelled, they truly were roommates in her body.
Demi silently watched as Lily sprinkled red peppers onto her pasta before sitting down. 'So, you like spicy food?'
"I like some adventure yes." Lily said as she took her first bite.
'I haven't had Noodle Garden before, but this isn't bad. Peppers definitely help. Maybe I can show you some recipes that I bet you would like.' Demi's mental voice said while Lily ate.
"Hm. I'd like that." Lily said between bites. "You cook?"
'On occasion, yes. But you would be surprised how many people just can't handle spice.' Demi said as Lily chuckled.
As she finished eating, Lily pushed her plate away, feeling content with her meal. "Well, it's getting late, and I really need to wash up before going to bed." Lily said, standing up and stretching. She stripped her clothes before heading into the bathroom, trying her best not to look down.
As she stood naked in front of the mirror to let her hair down, Lily could hear Demi's voice. 'You are so beautiful.' Lily froze with her eyes widening. 'I didn't mean to say that out loud. Oh god. I'll shut down now.'
Lily couldn't help but smile at Demi's embarrassment. It felt like a genuine compliment that she hasn't had in a long time. She didn't say anything, but as she stepped into the shower, she did notice that her nipples were standing firm and it wasn't cold in there. Where was this coming from?
More awkward quietness loomed as Lily got out and ready for bed. Lily was actually starting to get used to the idea of Demi, as strange as it sounded to her. She yawned as she lay in bed, her phone illuminating her face in the darkness. She scrolled through her social media feeds, her eyes glazing over the endless stream of pictures and updates. After a few minutes, she looked up and asked, "Demi, so I think you mentioned it before, but what do you really want?"
Lily could feel Demi's hesitation in her mind. 'I'm not sure, what do you mean?' Demi replied.
"Well, I'm sure you don't want have to stay hold up in someone else's bottom parts forever." Lily said casually but could already feel some slight uncomfortable feelings from Demi. "I didn't mean that harshly."
'It's fine.' Demi started. 'The truth is that I really don't like to do this either. It's a conflicting feeling between robbing somebody a week of their lives and just trying to live my own. I just...' She stammered. 'I wish I could have my own to myself. Everyone's scared of the tiny yellow piece of garbage slugging around.'
That self-depreciation felt real to Lily. "I don't think you're garbage."
Demi paused again. 'I know. I don't know, being in a body and being able to walk around. Eat food. Laugh. Smile at someone, even if they don't know who they're smiling back at. it's helps keep me going.'
Lily didn't know what to say, but she could feel the pit in her stomach that Demi was feeling. "I'm sorry." She said.
'No, I should be the one that's sorry. I'm not your burden to carry.' Demi said softly.
Lily tried to break the tension. "We'll figure this out together, one way or another."
'Thank you for everything. It's really nice to talk with someone without trying to hide who I am. Thank you.'
Lily smiled. To be honest, it felt nice for her to have someone to talk to as well. She really has been lonely lately, a reason why she went to that bar out of some desperation for a connection. She never thought that it could lead her to this. Still, she did feel a connection to Demi that she couldn't explain that went beyond their physical one.
That night Lily slept restlessly. In her dream, she found herself very small, no bigger than a rock. She looked around, her tiny body shivering in the cold air. She wasn't alone. Large shadows loomed over her, dark and menacing. She felt one feeling: intense fear.
