Todd's eyes fluttered open to bright overhead lights and the faint scent of antiseptic in the air. As he blinked away the remnants of anesthesia, a wave of confusion washed over him. The room looked different---less sterile, adorned with floral wallpaper and a soft pastel painting of a serene landscape. He glanced around, trying to gather his bearings, only to notice that the bed was draped in a white floral quilt instead of the usual hospital linens.

His heart raced as he attempted to sit up, only to be met with a sudden pang in his abdomen. "What the---" he muttered, his voice sounding higher, softer. He looked down, shocked to see the curve of his chest and the long, delicate fingers that curled nervously at his sides.

Before he could process what was happening, the door swung open. In walked Dr. Martinez, his surgeon, followed closely by his wife, Jenna. Todd's confusion deepened as he took in their expressions. Dr. Martinez's was one of professional concern, while Jenna's face betrayed a flicker of amusement, overshadowed only by confusion.

"Todd," Dr. Martinez began, speaking in a slight Mexican accent, "I think we need to have a chat."

"What...what's going on?" Todd croaked, trying to ignore the tightness in his throat.

"There was a mix-up during your surgery," the doctor explained, his tone calm yet serious. “You were in the wrong operating room. The team thought you were a patient scheduled for a gender affirmation procedure.”

“I… I’m a woman?” Todd breathed, his voice rising in disbelief.

"Technically, yes," Dr. Martinez replied, glancing at Jenna, who was now biting her lip to suppress a grin. “Physically, your body has undergone a transformation. We’re figuring out how to address this from a medical standpoint, and your medical history is still intact, but your external appearance has changed."

Todd's mind raced. Just hours ago, he’d been anxious about the hernia surgery---now he was grappling with a reality that felt surreal. “You have to reverse this! I want my old body back!”

As they spoke, Todd’s heart sank further into a pit of despair. The gravity of the situation pressed down on him. “You know what? This is ridiculous! I could sue! Medical malpractice or something!”

Jenna’s eyes widened momentarily before her expression softened. “Todd, honey, we’re in Mexico. You can’t sue anyone here---not for malpractice, and definitely not without the money to back it up. This is not the U.S.,” she reminded him gently, suppressing a grin that had been lingering at the corners of her mouth.

“What’s money got to do with it? This is my life we’re talking about!” he retorted, frustration boiling over.

“Let’s be real here. Fixing this mistake---if it’s even possible---could cost a fortune. We don’t have that kind of money,” she said, her tone now a mix of empathy and concern. “And worse, Todd, there’s another issue we need to face. Your passport… It’s not going to match. You look nothing like yourself anymore. How are you going to get back to the United States?”

Panic gripped him. With every passing moment, the harsh reality settled in like a thick fog. “So what? I’m just supposed to… What? Live like this forever? I can’t even get back home!”

Jenna reached out, her touch warm and grounding. “We’ll figure it out. You still have your identity; you’re still you inside. We just need to take it one step at a time.”

“But how?” he asked, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice. The idea of confronting life as a woman---living out a life he’d never planned for---felt both utterly alien and oddly daunting.

A week passed, and Todd settled into an uneasy routine in Mexico. With each day, he grappled with the surreal nature of his existence. He had spent sleepless nights staring at the ceiling, tossing and turning in the bed that felt so strangely foreign, and pondering the gravity of the life-altering surgery he'd undergone. From arranging appointments at the local consulate to figuring out basic tasks in his new form, the days blurred together in a haze of confusion and frustration.

Jenna had flown back to the United States, promising to keep in touch and assuring him that they would navigate this together. But her absence weighed heavily on him, amplifying the inhospitable strangeness of his situation.

Then, one dreary afternoon, a letter arrived. With trembling hands, Todd ripped it open. As he read Jenna’s familiar scrawl, confusion turned swiftly to dread.

Dear Todd,

It’s taken me a while to write this, but I needed to process what’s going on over here. Maybe I should thank the universe for finally giving me a break from your constant whining about your ‘typical male problems.’