Janet Wellsby couldn't believe what she was hearing. Standing in the living room of her modest home, her 18-year-old son, Steven, looked her dead in the eye and said with utmost conviction, "Mom, I'm you. I don't know how it happened, but we've swapped bodies!"

She had laughed at first, thinking it was some sort of elaborate joke. But Steven's demeanor wasn't playful. His voice, his expressions---they were eerily familiar, almost like looking into a mirror of herself. He walked with her subtle mannerisms, used phrases she often did, and even pointed out things only she would know.

"Steven," she began carefully, "you've been under a lot of stress with school and everything. Maybe you just need some rest."

But Steven, or "Janet," as he now insisted, was adamant. "No, you don't understand! I woke up this morning in his room, in his body! And I've been trying to figure this out all day!"

Janet grew more concerned. Could her son truly believe this? Or was something else going on?

By the time they arrived at Dr. Clemens' office, Janet was a mix of worry and embarrassment. Steven hadn't stopped referring to himself as "Janet" the entire drive there.

Dr. Clemens, a calm and collected man in his early fifties, greeted them warmly. "So, what seems to be the problem today?"

Before Janet could speak, Steven launched into his story. "Doctor, it's me, Janet Wellsby. I'm her---" he pointed at Janet, "---but somehow I'm stuck in this body. I need you to help me figure out how to get back to my own!"

Dr. Clemens raised an eyebrow but maintained his professional composure. "Steven, it sounds like you're feeling very disconnected right now. Let's take a step back---"

"I'm not Steven!" Steven interrupted, his voice rising. "I'm Janet! I know how this sounds, but it's the truth!"

Janet interjected, trying to defuse the tension. "Doctor, he's been saying this all day. He's convinced something's happened to him, and I don't know what to do."

Dr. Clemens nodded thoughtfully. "Steven, or Janet, as you prefer---this sounds very distressing. I'd like to recommend a short stay in the hospital for observation, just to make sure we can figure out what's going on."

When Steven realized what the doctor was suggesting, he panicked. "You don't believe me, do you? None of you believe me! I'm not crazy!" he screamed as two orderlies entered the room to escort him to a bed for observation.

Janet watched in horror as her son---still yelling that he was her---was gently restrained and led away. Tears filled her eyes. She couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at her. Was Steven truly having a mental health crisis, or was there something inexplicable happening that she was failing to see?

As the door to the observation room closed, Steven's cries echoed in her ears. "I'm Janet! You have to believe me!"

With his mother locked up, Steven could cut loose in his mother's body. Steven knew that the doctor would never believe in anything as ludicrous as a body swap. And when Janet started to act like a 'crazy person' Steven knew that his plan was going to work perfectly. Now, as far as anyone knew he was Mrs. Janet Wellsby. Maybe Miss Wellsby was better as Janet's husband, his dad, had left them several years ago.

The morning air was electric as 'Janet' stepped into the bustling salon, the sound of laughter and chatter enveloping her like a warm embrace. She had decided that with her son Steven away, it was time to claim some of the vibrancy that had faded since Steven's dad left. Sitting in the salon chair, she watched the stylist transform her hair in front of the large mirror, the clattering of scissors and the gentle scent of shampoo filling the air.

As the stylist worked, Janet marveled at the reflection staring back at her: the soft waves cascading past her shoulders, rich strawberry blond hues glimmering under the salon lights, and the subtle highlights framing her new face. Steven's youthful exuberance is shown through. After settling on a fresh, chic bob that showcased her cheekbones and brought forth a glow in her hazel eyes, she felt as if she were shedding all layers of the past. Steven was gone, being observed in the hospital, she was Janet.