Sisterly Venting - TGAR Caption

Sisterly Venting

    “Thanks, Rachel, this… isn't so bad.” “Claire” took a sip from the tea her “sister” had made for her. She had been a ball of nerves since she went from Rachel’s father to her sister, and in that moment, it felt like a lot of it washed away. Claire had been renamed as her wife’s daughter after an accident while visiting the hospital… she had to go on living, without ever knowing if she would change back. “It’s all just so stressful, you know? Being a girl. It's not just being young, it's like, an entirely different way of living life. I feel so… lost sometimes.” Rachel, and their family, had only wanted Claire to be happy, and in trying to do so, she had invited Claire to spend a night alone with her. Just the two of them, talking about girl stuff.

    “Don't mention it “sis” I know all too well what that’s like.” Rachel had been doting on Claire since she changed. Having a younger sister, one so shy and confused, made her heart sing. Claire had just finished her first semester of schooling. Over time she had changed a lot, and Rachel couldn't be happier. “It can't be entirely bad though, can it?”

    “What? Yes! I'm expected to do all these things a girl my age would do!” Claire felt pressure to be what people thought she was. To act the way a girl her age should, to be “proper.” And so she had, and it weighed on her a bit.

    “But… you do those things anyways, right?” Rachel tilted her head. It was no mystery how natural things had become for Claire. Most things she struggled to do at first she did without second thought. She had something of a social life now too, as much as she kept it to herself. As much as Rachel enjoyed helping Claire get ready and talking to her, she was also happy to see her grow.

    “Y-yeah, what's your point?” Claire stuttered as she realized the fact herself. She did feel pressure to be the ideal daughter and friend, but it weighed less on her now than it had in her first week of being herself.

    “I just think that you've found that you don't totally hate being Claire.” Claire thought for a second and then blushed a rosy pink and turned away. “What's that blush for? Did something, no, someone change your mind about all this?” Rachel’s mind raced as she thought about what had changed Claire’s point of view on being, well, “Claire.”

    “Well… there is this, uh, boy I met…” Claire’s face became a bright red from temple to cheek. She had dropped a bombshell of cuteness on her sister who almost fell over at the revelation. It was the best thing she had heard in her life.

    “Oh my gosh!! Do you like him? Has he asked you out?” Rachel excitedly pushed further for answers. Not in her wildest dreams did she see her sister adjusting so quickly, and in such an adorable way as well! She had done good in making herself a cute little sister, her Mom would probably be proud as well…

    “N-no, he hasn’t asked me out… yet, at least. We just have a few classes together. Umm…” Claire played with her hair as if it were natural as she tried to gather her thoughts. “I guess he’s cute… He’s… different from the rest, you know? I’ve never felt this way…” Claire knew what she was saying was abnormal… was Rachel going to scold her for it? What would other people think? “What should I do?”

    “What else? Go for it!” Rachel excitedly held her kid sister’s shoulders. Imagining the moment between her and her love interest, awkwardly reciprocating feelings with one another. “Ahh I can’t believe it, my “little sister’s” first love! I didn’t know you had become such a girl already!” Red-faced and heart-pumping, Claire sighed at what she had said. She really had become a girl, hadn’t she? “You’re so cute! Other people’s opinions don’t matter, tell me all about him!” And so she did, Claire told her all about him. How she felt comfortable being who she wanted to be around him, unlike anyone else. The way he treated her was not like the “other” but like a friend. The way her heart skipped a beat when he first suggested they trade phone numbers. Her worries melted away as she confided in her daughter-turned-sister. Claire had truly become a love-struck girl… and she had Rachel to thank for it.