#cyoc

Ten years ago, when Dylan had just turned eighteen, he had been poised to join the ranks of the adults for the body swap. However, because he had only barely crossed the threshold into adulthood, he had still been considered part of the children's group. That year, his eight-year-old cousin Kenny was part of the lottery as well. As fate would have it, they drew each other's names, an event that hadn't occurred in a while. The family was thrilled at the coincidence, seeing it as a rare and special bond between the two cousins. Dylan, on the other hand, had his reservations. He had always looked forward to swapping with the adults, but instead, he found himself in the body of his younger cousin.

As the swap took effect, Kenny marveled at his new height and strength, eagerly flexing his fingers and running around in Dylan’s teenage body. He found immense joy in doing things he normally couldn’t—opening jars with ease, lifting heavier objects, and even reaching the top shelves without a stool. Dylan, however, was far less enthused about his new perspective. Everything seemed too big, too overwhelming. He missed his independence, his deeper voice, and the physical confidence that came with being eighteen. Despite his discomfort, he tried to make the most of it, knowing the tradition meant it was only temporary.

As the week at the cabin came to an end, everyone gathered in the living room to swap back to their original bodies. One by one, family members reclaimed their identities, until, at last, it was time for Dylan and Kenny. But Kenny had other plans. That night, while Dylan had fallen asleep, Kenny, still in Dylan’s body, carried him to the room where his younger self usually slept. With his father’s help, he tucked Dylan into bed and declared that the swap had already been reversed. His father accepted it without question, trusting the ritual to have gone as planned. In Kenny’s mind, he had just secured himself an entirely new life.

The next morning, Dylan woke up in a panic. He was still in Kenny’s small body. Rushing out of bed, he tried to explain to Uncle Frank, his supposed father now, that something was terribly wrong. But Uncle Frank dismissed his claims with a chuckle, patting his head and telling him that he should let go of his jealousy. No one believed him. They all assumed he was just a child clinging to the experience of being older, something that had happened before with other kids in the past. Try as he might, Dylan couldn’t convince anyone that he had been cheated out of his rightful life.

For the next ten years, Dylan lived as Kenny, forced to relive childhood, go through school again, and watch his former self—now Kenny—live the life that should have been his. He struggled academically, not because he wasn’t intelligent, but because he had already learned everything before. The frustration of redoing classes he had already passed as Dylan gnawed at him. He withdrew from extracurricular activities, lacking the motivation to repeat experiences. Socially, he felt isolated, unable to connect with his peers the way he had when he was truly a child. He lived in a state of detachment, simply going through the motions until he could finally reclaim his real life. Physically, Dylan remained relatively unchanged. His frame remained lean, his voice barely deepened, and puberty didn’t bless him with the same physical advantages he had once had. 

(Dylan in Kenny’s 18-year-old body) 

It was a stark contrast to what had happened to Kenny. Kenny, living in Dylan’s body, flourished. He embraced adulthood with vigor, excelling in college and later building a promising career. He worked out religiously, sculpting a body that exuded strength and confidence. He took on responsibilities Dylan would have had, networking, dating, and becoming an entirely new person. The family never suspected a thing—they simply believed Kenny had matured well and Dylan had taken a different path.

Each winter at the cabin, Dylan watched as his true body continued to change, growing further away from him. Kenny wore it effortlessly, almost as if he had truly become Dylan. Meanwhile, Dylan felt perpetually stuck, his aspirations put on hold, his identity in limbo. For a decade, he was trapped.

(Kenny in Dylan’s 28-year-old body) 

But this year was different. Dylan’s original body was now twenty-eight, and his current one—Kenny’s—was finally eighteen. As the family gathered for their annual ritual, Dylan’s heart pounded. This was his last chance. And then, to everyone’s amazement, Dylan and Kenny drew each other’s names once again. A rare stroke of fate had given Dylan what he had wished for all these years. The swap happened in an instant, and suddenly, Dylan was back in his own body.

(Kenny back in his body)

(Kenny trying to get used to being Kenny again)

(Dylan back in his original body)

 (Dylan trying to get used to being Dylan again) 

As they sat together after the swap, Kenny looked at Dylan with an expression that was both apologetic and uncertain. "I stole your life," he admitted. "I was just a kid, but I knew what I was doing. I got used to being you, and I—" He trailed off, unable to meet Dylan’s eyes. Dylan let out a slow breath, absorbing the weight of the words. "It’s been ten years," he finally said. "And I guess… it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re back where we’re supposed to be. That’s what counts."

But then Kenny hesitated. "Actually… I wanted to ask you something," he said carefully. "Would it be okay if we swapped again at the end of the trip? I’ve been you for so long. I don’t know how to be myself anymore." Dylan blinked. He wasn’t sure how to respond. A part of him wanted to shout no, but another part of him understood. He left the question unanswered, letting it hang between them like the snowflakes drifting outside the cabin window.

Over the next few days, Dylan struggled to reacquaint himself with his original body. He felt unfamiliar in his own skin—too tall, too muscular, too hairy. His movements felt heavier, more deliberate. He had spent so many years as Kenny that being Dylan again felt alien. He caught his reflection in the mirror and barely recognized himself. Meanwhile, Kenny, back in his original body, wrestled with the same feeling in reverse. He missed the confidence of his old self, the maturity, the strength. Looking at Dylan, he felt like he was staring at a stranger inhabiting the body he had called home for ten years.

(Cousins trying to adapt)

By the end of the week, Dylan made his decision. After several deep conversations, both he and Kenny realized they had fully adapted to their switched lives. "Let’s do it," Dylan told Kenny. "You feel more like Dylan, and I feel more like Kenny. We’ve been each other for too long to go back now." The weight of the decision settled between them, but rather than hesitation, there was a shared sense of relief. Kenny’s face broke into a wide smile, and Dylan felt a surprising sense of contentment. They performed the swap one last time, and when it was done, there was no regret, no confusion—only peace. From that moment forward, Dylan thought of himself as Kenny, and Kenny thought of himself as Dylan. They had lived each other's lives for so long that, in the end, it only felt right. They embraced, not as two people returning to their old selves, but as two men who had found where they truly belonged.

(The new Kenny enjoying his permanent body)

(The new Dylan enjoying his permanent body)