With a deep breath, I nod and let Mom take my hand as we enter the store. A friendly clerk approaches us, saying, “Welcome. How may I help you?”

  I flinch as Mom pces her hand on my shoulder and requests, “My daughter needs to be measured, please.”

  The clerk smiles and responds, “Of course.” She looks down at me and adds, “If you’ll follow me.”

  She takes me to a dressing room and has me take off my dress. As I’m blushing, she quickly takes my measurements as she mutters to herself, “28… 27… 23 and… 30. Okay, you can get dressed.”

  Once I’m dressed, she leads me back to Mom and tells her, “Her measurements are 28A, 23, 30. Do you need help finding anything?”

  Mom declines, shaking her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got it from here.”

  She takes my hand and guides me deeper into the store. I want nothing to do with any of this, but of course, Mom insists that I help pick them out. This takes far longer than I wish it had, but in the end, we pick out several bra and panty sets, a few strapless bras, and we also pick out several more camisoles in various colors and styles.

  For a while now, I’ve been sleeping in just panties and an old t-shirt. However, my mom insisted on getting me some nightgowns and I admit, I love the feel of the fabric. After that, we went to several other stores to pick out blouses, t-shirts, shorts, skirts, dresses, and a couple pairs of jeans. I find it interesting how different girls’ clothes feel and fit. I found I had to struggle into the jeans since they hug and accentuate my every curve.

  After a lunch break, my mom and I head to a shoe store. She starts picking out various styles of shoes for me, including ankle and knee boots, sandals, and even heels. Personally, I think my sports shoes and some sandals would have been enough. As a boy, all I needed were my sports shoes, hiking boots, and dress shoes. I even said as much to Mom. She just smiled and said that girls need more variety in their shoe collection. I didn’t argue and went along with her choices because I knew my opinions wouldn’t make much of a difference.

  Next, she takes me to get a swimsuit. When she suggests a bikini, I put my foot down; there’s no way I’m going out in public like that. We compromise on a one-piece instead, although it leaves very little to the imagination.

  Next, we head over to a rge jeweler. We pick out earrings and some other accessories, and insists that I get my ears pierced. She informs me that all girls have it done long before they reach my age, so I’ll stand out if I don’t. Reluctantly, I agree and get my ears pierced too.

  Our shopping trip finally comes to an end and we make our way back home. Mom, Diana, and I quickly pack up my old clothes, keeping a few t-shirts for lounging around, and then put away all of my new purchases. Mom then has me take off my dress and teaches me how to properly put on a bra, thankfully with front hooks that make it easy. She adjusts the straps for the right fit. Afterward, my mother and sister leave and I change into some shorts and a clingy, sleeveless half-shirt. I head downstairs to watch some TV.

  It’s worth mentioning that I haven’t had the chance to meet our new neighbors yet. They came over to introduce themselves when we first moved in, and my Mom mentioned that some of them have kids around my age. However, they were told I was in the hospital at the time because I was sick. I’m hopeful that I’ll meet someone like Chel soon; it would be nice to have a couple of friends before starting school. This weekend, my parents are throwing a party so they can introduce me, so I’ll get the chance to meet the kids my age. I’m crossing fingers that I make a couple of friends then.

  Taking a seat on the couch, I turn on the TV and start Netflix to watch some anime. I hadn’t finished watching Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans and I was really into it before all of this started. Starting the next episode, I settle back and watch. I don’t know why, but I have a really hard time getting into it. Finally, I give up trying to get interested and turn it off. Wondering what to do now, I decide to explore the neighborhood.

  That evening, I checked my email and find an email from Chel. Smiling as I open it, she tells me that she’s worried since she hadn’t heard from me for a while and to please email or call her soon. Then she says she’s been hanging around with Karen and a couple of her friends and they convinced her to try out for cheerleading, which makes me wonder if I should. It’s not like I can py the sports I used to, so I think why not try out for it.

  I write her back an email and apologize for not contacting her sooner but that I had been in the hospital and I would call her soon to expin why. After I click send, I shut down my computer, I undress and change into one of my old t-shirts when Mom calls from downstairs saying it’s time for dinner.

  I gnce at myself in the mirror and shrug as I think, ‘This fits me like a dress and covers everything, so who cares that I don’t have a bra on. It’s only my family here.’ It should be needless to say that I don’t even make it to the kitchen table before Mom takes one look at me and sends me right back upstairs to put on a bra.

  Sitting down at the table, we’re talking about the pns for the housewarming and I ask David, “Did you meet anyone when the neighbors came over before?”

  He doesn’t even look at me and simply shrugs as he continues to eat his dessert.

  David has been standoffish with me since I got out of the hospital and I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m a girl now or what. He doesn’t treat Diana this way though and honestly, it’s beginning to irk me. Weeks of this and I haven’t compined once, nor have I tried to push it since I thought it would solve itself after he had time to come to terms, adjust, or whatever you want to call it. Yet, here we are, with him still basically ignoring me as much as possible. When he has to talk to me, he’s curt and only says the absolute minimum. I have no idea how to fix this either, but at this point, I’m more than fed up with it.

  Frowning, I ask, “What is your problem?”

  He shrugs again. “Who says I have a problem?”

  My tolerance reaches a breaking point. My temper fres and I sh out at him. “I do! You’ve been ignoring me for weeks. Since I got back from the hospital, you haven’t bothered to ask how I am or how I’m doing. So, what’s your malfunction?"

  His eyes narrow as he looks at me, and a sneer forms as he snarls, “You! Just look at you! Trying to dress and act like a girl!”

  Surging out of my seat, I lean forward and pce a hand on it for support with my other hand, I cup my right breast. Tears form and freely flow down my cheeks as I angrily state, “Look at me! I’m a girl, you moron!”

  He snarls back, “No, what you are is a freak!”

  Diana stands up and wraps me in a tight hug. The tension in the room is palpable as Mom’s face contorts into an expression of pure rage. Without hesitation, she backhands David out of his seat. My tears and outrage forgotten, my mouth hangs open in shock, as this is the first time either of our parents have ever hit one of us.

  She stands up and steps over to gre at him. Her voice almost drips with suppressed rage as she says, “Your sister is not a freak and you will not act this way with her. She didn’t choose this, but she does have to live this way and she’s trying very hard to adjust. This… you acting like this isn’t helping anything.”

  My father joins in, firmly stating, “Rei is your sister, and it is your responsibility to protect and care for her just as you do Diana. David, you’d best pay attention and take what I’m saying to heart. I won’t tolerate any more of this behavior towards your sister. If I hear another incident of disrespect or mistreatment, you can say goodbye to pying sports or attending martial arts csses. In fact, you won’t even be allowed outside of your room until you turn 18 and leave our house. Do you understand me?”

  Tears stung at my eyes as I look at my parents, as they look at me, their expressions are a mixture of angry, love and concern. In this moment, amidst all of this chaos, I felt a surge of overwhelming gratitude for the unwavering love and support they’ve shown me since this happened. My heart was heavy enough as it is, and the st thing I needed was someone adding to the weight with unnecessary criticism.

  David sit there, holding his cheek with a surprised expression and merely replies by nodding.

  Dad grunts and then continues, “Don’t think that’s an idle threat either. If there’s one more incident like this, if I even hear a rumor of treating her badly or you saying anything other than she’s my sister and I love her, I will follow through with it. She is your sister and you will show her the same respect that you show Diana.” He strikes a finger on the table making a loud thump. “Is that perfectly clear to you?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good. Now get up and let’s finish dessert.”

  A few minutes ter, David leans over to me and says, “Rei, I’m sorry. I guess I just don’t get any of this.”

  I hesitantly smile. “Thank you.” I say that but then I think I should crify things. “There’s nothing to ‘get.’ I’ve always been a girl. It’s just that no one knew it until recently.” My voice grows stronger with each word, and determination to make the best of the situation I find myself in taking root. “This is who I am.”

  He still looks confused as he says, “Yeah. I got that part, but how were you a girl? You had a d..uh, penis.”

  I look to my parents for help in expining because while I understand it, expining things is a different story. Mom patiently expins that externally, I was male, although my penis was purely cosmetic, and no one knew any different until my breasts began developing and tests showed that I have a uterus, ovaries, and vagina. That my condition is called being intersexed.

  David nods and turns back to look at me with a mischievous grin as he replies, “So that’s why you always threw like a girl.”

  I can’t help but grin and pyfully swat his arm as everyone around us bursts into ughter. His joke serves to relieve the tense atmosphere that had been weighing on us. Later that night, as I sit on my bed with my legs curled underneath me, I’m reading a book when a faint knock at my door interrupts. “Come in,” I call out, wondering who would bother me at this time of night.

  David enters the room, shuts the door gently, and takes a seat next to me. “Hey. I want to apologize for my behavior earlier. I…I assumed you chose to be a girl.”

  “I didn’t, but don’t you see that even if I did what you’re accusing me of, it doesn’t change who I am?” I ask, my voice trembling with emotion. “Yes, I wear skirts and dresses now, but that doesn’t define me or what I’ve always been.”

  I pause and then ask, “Do you remember the girl in the hospital across from my room? The one who used to sit and talk with me when our parents couldn’t be there?” He simply nods, so I continue, “She was born male, but she always knew she was female. Can you imagine what people put her through simply because she wasn’t born in the ‘right’ body?” My body nguage and expression plead for him to understand, to empathize. “David, that kind of thinking is so wrong. Please, don’t ever treat someone that way.”

  He pats my thigh and smiles. “I won’t. After you and Diana went upstairs, Mom and Dad had a long talk with me. Rei, no matter what, you’ll always be my family.”

  Scooting closer, I wrap my arms around him in a hug and he tenses as my breasts press against his chest. This is the David I’m used to and despite never saying it outright, I know he loves me. Pyfully, I whisper in his ear, “And, you’re my favorite brother.”

  He rexes as he chuckles. “I’m your only brother, moron.”

  I lean back and smirk as I say, “Exactly.”