Chapter 10
by 
nickkorneev22
What's next?
Good morning
You wake up next to Avery and take a moment to admire her peaceful sleeping face. As you get out of bed to get dressed, she stirs slightly, opening her eyes to look at you.
"Morning," you say, smiling.
"Good morning," she replies, stretching and sitting up. "I hope you slept well."
"Yeah, I did. How about you?"
"Amazingly. It's always better when I'm not alone."
You both laugh, and she stands up to go to the bathroom while you get dressed. When she returns, you sit on the bed and start a conversation.
"So, can I ask you something personal?" you say, hesitantly.
"Sure, anything."
"You mentioned that you're transgender. Can you tell me a little more about that?"
Avery nods, taking a deep breath before speaking. "I was born male, but I never felt comfortable in that body. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I realized I wanted to transition to female. It was a long and difficult journey, but I'm finally happy with who I am."
You listen intently, fascinated by her story. "That's really brave of you," you say.
"Thank you," she replies, smiling. "It hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it."
After a moment of silence, Avery looks at you expectantly. "So, do you have any questions?"
You hesitate for a moment, wondering if you should ask what's been on your mind. "Do you have any scars from the surgery?"
"Yes, I do have scars, but they don't define me. And besides, they're not really noticeable and it's a small price to pay for finally feeling comfortable in my own skin."
You both sit in silence for a moment before Avery speaks up again. "So, what are your plans for the day?"
You tell her about meeting your stepsister Bella for lunch, and she nods in understanding. "Well, I should probably get going then," you say, standing up.
"Okay, I'll walk you out," Avery replies, getting dressed.
As you walk to the door, Avery stops and turns to face you. "I had a great time last night," she says, smiling. "We should do it again sometime."
You nod, feeling a little hesitant. "Yeah, I had fun too."
You both smile at each other before you leave the apartment, feeling a little relieved. As you walk home, you can't help but think about Avery's story and how brave she is. It makes you realize that you don't know everything about the people in your life, and that everyone has their own struggles and triumphs.