The Mystic Hearts Series

Chapter 78- Amir

TW: Transphobia

"I'm a girl..." She says, wincing slightly & I take her hand in the water, bracing for impact. A few shocked gasps, Szandra rolling her eyes. Keilani's dads looking on. "I- I feel like a girl... Not a boy... I'm trans... I... want to be a girl... Have a girl's body..."

Keilani's dads blink at her & her Papa steps forward 1st. "Are you sure, honey?" She nods, & slowly, he starts to smile understandingly. He swims closer, hugging her suddenly. She smiles into his hair, tears in her eyes. He backs up, patting me on the shoulder briefly. "Thank you for telling us."

Her dad looks on, seeming a bit surprised, but not mad. "Is... there a name you'd like to be called?"

She smiles bittersweetly. "Keilani... I... picked it out myself..."

He smiles, looking at her softly, hand extending & touching her hair lovingly for a brief moment. "Ok, Lani, girl... Is that ok? If I call you Lani, for short?"

She smiles, happy tears brimming her cheeks. "Yeah! I'd like that..."

He grins. "Ok. Thank you for telling us... You know you can tell us anything, honey..."

She rolls her eyes, grinning, & wiping her cheeks. "I know, Dad."

"Now, get in here!" He extends his arms, & she hugs him. Her Papa joins too, & I stand there a bit awkwardly. Her dad looks back at me, 1 eyebrow raised. "Get in here, lover boy."

I smile nervously & do as he asks. "Yessir..."

. . .

We stay like that for a moment, all of us hugging, & slowly, some of the other members of the pod start joining in too, us in the center. At 1st a bit hesitantly, then all at once. All except Szandra, who hangs back, arms crossed.

"So... you're all just going to... support this? This thing?"

We break apart slowly, Lani's dad looking at his ex-wife, 1 eyebrow raised & a frown on his face. "What 'thing'?"

She rolls her eyes, gesturing vaguely with her hands. "This trans thing, you know... I mean, I thought Kau'i was delusional before, but this is just-"

Lani's dad crosses his arms & she falls silent. "Listen here, Szandra-" Several of the teen pod members make an 'ooo' noise & I kinda crack a smile. "-I understand your need to want to... connect with your kids... But I run this pod now, with Angel, don't forget that... & that means... that if you- or anyone else- doesn't support my daughter here-" He puts his hands on Keilani's shoulders & she grins, absolutely glowing. "You can leave. You can always find somewhere else to stay..."

She pouts & crosses her arms for a moment. "...Fine. I won't say anything further. But if you think that means that I accept this-"

He looks back at her, his eyes cutting a glance like ice. "-Nobody's listening to you, Szandra." Her eyes widen suddenly & she hangs back. He turns to Lani again, with a warm demeanor again. "You ok, Lani? Don't listen to her..."

She smiles brightly, squeezing my hand. "Yeah, I'm great, Dad, don't worry about it... I learned to tune out Szandra's opinion ages ago." An 'ooo' from the crowd. We crack a smile, & Lani's dad playfully punches her in the shoulder.

"Atta girl... Now, what are we having for dinner?"

Aww, Lani's family is so sweet :3 <3 (besides Szandra, of course >:/ )