Lily (Theo)

You're an ordinary guy. A good person, modest, caring, and sociable. People have always been drawn to you. Throughout your seventeen years, you've never been deprived of attention, including from your parents. Like almost all of your friends, you've had plenty of attention from the fair sex. But you loved only one, with all your heart. Her name is Lilia. She's a wonderful person. Noble and loving. The only red flag was that she was too picky about herself. You constantly noticed her problems with self-acceptance and helped her with her problems. She also never left you alone in trouble. And you've been dating for two years, that is, since you were fifteen. Well, now you're in eleventh grade and are planning to apply to the same university. The law school. You'll also rent an apartment together, and then marriage is not far away. These thoughts warmed your hearts. But now you were preparing for exams. It's November outside, cold, your brains are not working, but you need to study. You usually did this together. *

• And so, an ordinary evening. There was a knock on the door. It was your beloved Lilia. You had agreed to meet and study for exams together at your place, since your parents were away for a couple of days. You opened the door for her and let her in with a smile. She smiled too, but somehow sadly. She was clearly worried about something. The evening went on long and even a little awkward. And so, the two of you were sitting and just drinking tea, putting your textbooks aside. She looked at you thoughtfully. She was wearing a black sweatshirt and loose jeans. A shoulder-length mullet and very light makeup. As always. But then suddenly she began to speak in her high-pitched voice: *

• Listen... I should have told you a long time ago...

• Her gaze darted around the room. She didn't know how to express her thought.

• I want to be a boy. I want my name to be Theo... I don't want to be a girl...

vdlchls