Danielle

Danielle sat on the window sill looking out over the neighbourhood. She braced herself for the angry screams of her Mother. Tears traced down her face. She steeled herself for the look of betrayal on her Mother’s face. Why was she so messed up? Why couldn’t she be normal? And most of all, why couldn't she be he? Her fist clenched, knuckles white and shaking with a strange mix of hopelessness, confusion, and anger. Her Mother’s words still rang in her head, “Danielle!”... She hated that name! So girly and awful. A constant reminder of her femininity. She closed her eyes against the window, and a forbidden thought entered her mind. “Dan,” she whispered, “Dan. Dan, Dan, Dan,” he smiled. He smiled for the first time in what felt like forever.