The thing I remember the most are her eyes. 

They were so striking. She liked mascara and winged eyeliner and it just drew your gaze into hers. One look and I could talk to her for hours and not notice any time passing.

I had recently come out as genderfluid and was publicly exploring my feminine side. I had opted for a skirt, a tank top and some Chuck Taylors. I had done my makeup, too, but pretty badly. I felt okay going out in the morning, but started getting more stares and plain old hostile looks as more people turned up and then I saw Rick walking down the sidewalk. He was a friend when I thought I was cis, but got angry and vicious when I came out, so I didn’t exactly want to see him. 

I retreated to a queer bar, where I figured I’d be safe, and nursed a coffee for a while. Every time I took a sip I got a jolt of joy at seeing my lipstick smear on the mug. I figured I would wait for the foot traffic to die down and then sneak back on the train home. That was when she walked in the bar, preceded by the click-clack of her high heels on the tiled floor. 

Looking up at the sound, I saw her enter. She was no supermodel, but she used her clothes and makeup to great effect and had such a confident way of carrying herself that I doubt I would have been more bowled over if she had been a supermodel. She ordered a coffee and sat facing me, but at a different table. Between her physical position and her eyes, it was hard to keep from looking directly at her. I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment and was relieved when her coffee was brought out and she busied herself with it. 

However, she drank it quickly and then walked right up to me! I blushed even more. I tried willing myself to disappear, but naturally that didn’t work. 

“Oh, honey,” she said. “Your makeup is all smeared – is this your first time?”

I nodded. “Yeah,” I said. “I came out as genderfluid a few weeks ago.”

“That’s terrific!” she said. “Would you like some help with your makeup? Come with me to the bathroom.”

“I’d love that, thank you,” I said. 

The words were barely out of my mouth when she took me by the hand and dragged me into the ladies’ room. I almost protested, until I remembered that I was a girl now, at least for the moment. In the bright lights of the bathroom, she got quite close to me and I found myself starting to get lost in her eyes. 

“I’m Zoe, by the way,” she said.

“Jack,” I said. “I haven’t figured out if I want a feminine or gender neutral name, so Jack will do.”

“Don’t worry about it, Jack,” Zoe said. “Just relax.”

She pulled a bunch of supplies out of her purse and started wiping up my makeup with cotton balls. As she did so, she explained makeup to me, but truth be told, I wasn’t consciously listening. Her eyes were that absorbing. It just felt natural to lose myself in them, to relax, to let her brush the thoughts out of my head with her makeup brushes and to obey.

“Obey?” I asked sleepily. That confused me. 

“Yes, obey,” she said. “You’re going to obey me from now on without question or hesitation. You’ve looked into my eyes, which means I control your will now. Your will and your mind are mind to change and shape like I’m changing your makeup and shaping the shadows on your cheeks.”

“I obey,” I said. 

“That’s right,” she said. “Such a good girl for me. You’re going to obey me and whenever you do, you’ll feel so good, so blissful.”

“I obey,” I said happily. 

The next thing I knew I was looking into the bathroom mirror, astonished at the change she had wrought. I looked, well, like a girl.

“Just get those products I told you about and you should be good to practice on your own,” she said. 

“I . . . I don’t believe it,” I said. “Thank you so much!”

We hugged. Then she looked into my eyes again. Instantly, it was like my mind shut off. 

“I always love helping people,” she said. “And controlling cuties’ minds. My first command Jack, is to come to this address at 8:00 pm tonight.”

She handed me a scrap of paper with an address on it. I stuck it in my purse and said. “I will obey.”

“Good girl,” Zoe said. “It was nice meeting you.”

She walked out of the bathroom and was gone. Already my memories of her were fading, except for her eyes. They say the eyes are the windows of the soul and if that’s true than her soul is now in control of mine, but I like it: all I have to do is obey.