Hero

You take her in her arms as she leans her body into yours. Her face presses into your chest as her pent up feelings all come flooding out at once. Your sister weeps and you hold her tight.

You nuzzle into her soft hair and kiss her head, whispering. “I love you. I love you so much. I’m here for you Elsie.”

The cup slips from her hands and tumbles to the ground, spilling its contents out onto the path. Her arms wrap around your body and she clings to you as her weeps turn to sobs. You hold her, you soothe her, you stroke her back, and you let her cry herself out. You would sit here just like this until sundown if need be. Her tears wet the cotton of your blue t shirt. At one point a middle aged couple turn to cut through the park. You give them a look as you hold your sister protectively and they nod with understanding, veering well around the pair of you to give you your privacy.

Gradually Elsie regains control again. As the tears dry up you feel her shaking body relax. A few deep breaths and she can talk again, though she stays firmly nestled in your embrace, not wanting to let go.

“Sorry.” She whispers.

“Don’t be.” You kiss her head again. “I should have noticed something was wrong earlier.”

“Nothing is wrong.”

“El.”

She sighs. “Well…one thing is wrong.”

“What is it El?”

She trembles and fights back tears once more. “I am Jesse. I’m wrong.”

You squeeze her tight and she squeezes back. “You are not wrong Elsie. You are everything that is right in this world.”

“I wish that were true.” She says. “I wish that were true.” Straightening up she sit back up, but stays glued to your side. You keep one arm around her shoulders as she talks. Looking down at the ground she sees the drink spilled out in a melting golden puddle. “Oh no! The drink you bought me.”

“Don’t worry about that.” You say. “Come on El, tell me what’s wrong.” You already knew but you wanted to hear it from her.

She runs her hands down her thighs, smoothing out her long heavy dress. “It’s me Jesse.” Her hands ball up into fists. “It’s this body. This ugly nasty disgusting…”

“Hey.” You pull her in. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.”

“I hate it! I hate it! I don’t want to be this way anymore!” Her words are a mix of anger, frustration, and despair.

“I know.” You kiss her cheek. “I know El.”

“Nobody…nobody asked me to prom Jesse.” She moans, misty eyed once more. “I’ve turned everyone away for so long…nobody even bothered. I’m tired of the lies. I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of seeing a body that isn’t mine in the mirror. I can’t live like this anymore.”

Your heart bleeds for her. The prom confession cuts deepest. You had considered asking to be Elsie’s date for her prom dance but Allison told you that no girl would want to be seen going to a dance with her brother, that going alone would be preferable to that. Now you wished you would have at least asked. After giving her moment to settle herself again it was your turn for a confession.

“I talked to Aunt Peg.”

Elsie immediately stiffens up and pulls away. She looks up at your face worried about what you were about to say.

“She told me.” You say. “She told me about the procedure.”

Elsie was in the process of begging her aunt to perform a procedure on her that would rid her of her penis and testes. Seeing Elsie’s deteriorating mental health Peg was actually starting to consider it.

“She…!? She had no right!” Elsie snaps. “That’s private!”

“I know, I know. She didn’t want to tell me but I begged her.” You say softly. “I was worried about you El. A big brother can’t just sit by and watch his little sister die inside.”

“Patient confidentiality…” She starts to say.

“Peg isn’t a medical doctor El, she’s a scientist. And she’s our aunt. And she loves you.” You say. This seems to calm El significantly, relieved she now had someone else to confide in. “She told me the procedure isn’t as simple as it would be with normal people.”

“Yeah.” Elsie sighs as she glowers down at her crotch. “One more fuck you from our mutation.” Hearing El swear told you how bitter she was. “This…thing between our legs…it…balances our hormones and chemistry or something.”

“I know. Peg explained it.” You didn’t understand it either but the long and the short of it was the Bailey women’s added bits were not merely aesthetic, they were an essential part of them. “She said you’d have to be on **** and supplements for the rest of your life…if you survive that is.”

“The chance of **** is low.” El said, her voice eerily flat. “I…I don’t even care anymore. I’d rather die than…”

“Woah, woah, woah.” You give her a shake. “No talking about dying! You can’t do that to me, you hear me El!?”

She wilts into you again. “I can’t Jesse. I can’t live like they do. This isn’t my body. I’m a woman Jesse, I don’t belong in this body!”

“Shhhh.” You soothe her. “I know Elsie. Peg and I had a long talk about this. She told me how you feel, that you’ve always felt this way and always will.” You draw in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “El…I want to help you.”

“Jesse, you can’t help me. Nobody can, except Peg and her procedure.”

“That’s not true Elsie.” You say. “I can help you.” She looks up at you, confused but with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. You were the one person in this world she trusted even more than herself and you had come to her offering aid.

“What do you mean?”

“Well…Peg says that there is one other option.” You start. “It is specifically the testes that your body needs to remain balanced and healthy. She says…she says that they don’t necessarily need to be on the outside of your body.”

Elsie cocks her head to the side. “What are you talking about?”

You let out a breath, gathering your nerve for what was the biggest decision of your life. “Peg didn’t mention it to you because your testes are too, well, too big. And they’re still growing.” You swallow. “But, she says that if there were another pair…a pair of smaller ones…from somebody who also had the family mutation…that she could set them inside of you with no external organs showing at all. She could remove your penis. She could make you just like you want to be.”

“But…” Elsie tries to grasp what you were saying. “…you mean Chloe?”

You shake your head. “I mean me. It turns out I have the family genes as well, despite looking like a normal guy.”

“You? Yours? But…but Jesse…”

“Obviously I need a manhood , I’d rather not go eunuch…though for you I would El.” You look her in the eyes. “I’d have to have yours. A transplant. A trade. You get my balls and I get your whole package, my poor little pecker a sacrifice for the greater good. I could keep it too I guess, small dick with huge balls. That would look so weird. Could keep both too, though then I’d have a double dong. Not sure how viable that would be. Anyway, I’m getting off track here.” You see understanding begin to dawn on her gorgeous face and life gleam from her dark eyes. “There are risks, but a lot fewer and none potentially lethal.” With your free hand you take her hand in yours. “And we’d face those challenges together.” You let out breath, relieved to have gotten that all out as clearly as you did.

“Jesse! You can’t…you…are you serious?” She gasps. "You would do that...for me?

“I am totally serious.” You say. “Your happiness means more to me than…well, I want to help.”

Ohhh, the way she looked at you! Hope and love glowing from her like a star. You were a her brave hero riding in over the horizon on a shining steed to save her from her demons and MAN did that feel good! Now you had to hold back your own tears. This was Elsie’s dream come true and you felt so humbled and proud and joyful to be the one to offer it to her. Being the runt of the Bailey litter suddenly seemed a wonderful blessing. You hadn’t talked to Allison or anyone else but Peggy about this, you didn’t need to. It was your body, your choice. And for Elsie…for Elsie you would risk everything.

“Not a fair trade I realize. I’d definitely be trading up.” You quip with a little chuckle. “So don’t think I’m totally selfless here.” You smile. “I know there are risks. But for you, to see you happy again, I would do anything. Anything.” Gazing deep in her magical dark eyes you ask. “So what do you say Sis? Wanna swap?”