Which One's Which

Who Are You?

I woke up to a voice I didn't recognize. 

"COME ON KIDS! WAKE UP! IT'S 7 AM! GET READY FOR BREAKFAST!"

I slowly got out of bed, still very tired, and realized Miles wasn't there. Where had he gone? 

"COME ON GET TO THE KITCHEN"

I got up, and made my way down. 

Kids in the 8 other rooms in this house came pouring out, but gave Miles and me odd looks. I guess it's understandable. Two random kids just showing up in the middle of the night, and not to mention some of them more than likely heard me cry loudly last night. The confusion makes sense, I guess. 

As I looked around, I noticed small groups of kids pointing at us followed by whispering and quick glances. I kept hearing,

 "Who are they"

"Where did they come from"

"I wonder why they're here"

,and the worst of them all,

"Wait, are they a boy or a girl"

"I don't know, why don't you ask them"

and before I knew it, the kid had walked up to me and said,

"What is your gender?"

"I'm a dude, and if you must know I'm trans"

"Well, I didn't ask, but cool. You do you. It doesn't matter what your birth certificate says, you're a guy. I mean, you do know this is an LGBT center right!?" he laughed.

"Yeah, you seem pretty chill. By the way, thanks I really needed that. I've had a really rough couple of days."

"Ya know, I think we could be great friends."

The kid turned around to head back to the girl he was previously talking to, when he turned back around to talk to me again.

"Oh, I never caught your name"

"That's 'cuz I never threw it."

I had never really stopped to come up with a name.  I certainly wasn't going to give this kid my birth name.

"Ok, so what IS your name"

"I don't know yet"

"Ok, Mr. NoNameKid, my name is Jason"

Oh crap, I'm going to have to come up with the perfect name fast.

"Hey, I can't believe I never bothered to ask your name! Like, you feel like a brother but I don't even know your name!", laughed Miles.

"Ya, I guess I had never had time to figure one out"

"What about Troy" Miles requested.

"No way"

"Tyler?"

"Nah"

"HMMMMMMMM.......Oooooooooh, I have the perrrrfect name for you"

"Well, Miles, don't just stand there. TELL ME!!!!!!"

"Ahhhhhh Its just so PERFECT for you."

"Don't leave me in suspense! Just tell me!" I laughed

"Alex"

"You're right, that is perfect" I said in a cheerfully monotone tone.

"Ok Alex, it is great to meet you. As I already said, I'm Jason, but this is my girlfriend Ver."

"Well, it is nice to meet you guys. This is my friend Miles, and like he told you, I'm Alex."

It felt really weird to have a new name, but at the same time, it made me feel at home with myself (If that makes any sense).

Before I knew it everyone was sitting at the large circular table, shoving the sugary cereal into their mouths as if it were their last meal. I looked like the odd one, pacing myself, and eating slowly. Soon enough Miles and I were the only ones still in the kitchen, though soon enough Miles also ran off to the other kids. 

I was alone. Alone again. I knew I wasn't really alone, but a lot has happened in the last few days. Next thing I knew, I was rocking back and forth on the floor. I couldn't breath. I couldn't think. I couldn't speak. I couldn't hear. I think I was crying, but I couldn't tell. 

People rushed into the room trying to calm me down, but they couldn't help, if anything it got worse. I felt outside myself, but at the same time I couldn't feel at all. Some other adults, I think doctors, rushed in and carried me to my room. They lied me down on my bed and held me down as they gave me a shot in my upper thigh. It hurt like hell, but it calmed me down until I fell asleep.

I woke to Miles staring at me with sad eyes. 

"What's goin' on Alex?"

I almost forgot that was my name.

"I'm alone Miles. I've lost everyone. I had a little sister. I'll never see her again."

"You don't know that."

"I won't be able to see her for another 8 years, and by then she will have long forgotten all about me."

"I've only known you for like a day, but I already know I will never forget you. She has very likely known you far longer than a day, so I'm very  confident that she won't forget you. Also bih you have me, and I'm not going anywhere."

"Thanks"

"Anyways, it's time to go to bed. You were out all day, but try to sleep"