-----I couldn't believe that I was dying, wasting my final days in a hospital. The cancer in my lungs had been caught too late, and by that time the cancer had spread all over the place. I can't say for sure, but I must have condemned myself for two whole days before I succumbed to depression and awaited the inevitable. If only I hadn't been so prideful and had gone to the doctor when my wife had first suggested it after I had first related to her the increasing discomforts, pangs and the occassional labored breath.

-----But when I was approached by a couple of gentlemen about an experimental procedure that may save my life, I readily agreed. As if I would pass up on living! All that I had to do was agree to their terms, and at the time they seemed reasonable enough. But I suppose anything would have seemed reasonable to me at the time: all that I wanted to do was escape death. And their offer was the only avenue that I knew of where the result might end in me remaining alive, and if it didn't work out, well... Better than not trying at all.

-----When I next awoke, after I had gone through the operation to have my consciousness switched with that of someone who had been comatose for four years, I was surprised to find myself as a young girl. But then I remembered the details of the operation, and only in hindsight could I smack myself for agreeing with the terms. Of course, I was relieved to still be alive... However, I can't say that I was not disturbed by my new body and how it felt, as well as how naturally I seemed to operate it.

-----What I also had not considered was the family of the girl whose body I now inhabited. They were so ecstatic to see me conscious, and my mother was especially an emotional wreck. And even I cried, so affected by them was I. And at that moment everything became abundantly clear to me amongst the confusion of hugs, kisses, animated exchanges and an atmosphere barraging me with love: I was the scum of the Earth.

-----Not only had I taken their daughter away from them for good, but they didn't know it and I wouldn't dare devastate them by telling them so. I had been so selfish in trying to keep myself alive that I hadn't considered, until now, just what I had gotten myself into. I had not even considered my own family, whom I could also not relate my current condition to. To them I had died, but to me I had abandoned them. Everyone I cared about was within reach and yet I would only make things worse for everyone by going against the terms of those doctors: to live as Camille and to remain quiet about my identity as Clifford.

-----Once my new family left me alone so I could have some time to myself, I let the tears flow as I considered what I had done. I also considered slight differences in my behavior along with some of my gestures and mannerisms that I had noticed, but I chalked that up as the parts of the girl's brain that had remained intact since only the part of my brain that contained my consciousness had replaced her own. It made me wonder as to my identity.

-----Who was I? I was Camille. Camille seems to have a good family that deserves love in return for the love that they gave to me. Clifford messed up bad, so I'm going to do it right as Camille. And I know I will, because Camille's heart beats in my breast and it yearns with child-like innocence to do the right thing. And I hope that Camille can forgive me, but I have a feeling that she's right here with me... While her memories were lost, her heart will carry on. And I'll make sure to carry it for a long, long time.