Somebody Stand By Me

Enough!

*Warning: Strong and Offensive language in this chapter*

*Victoria's POV*

"What?" My dad says with a confused and unamused expression.
"I'm a girl trapped in a boy's body." I say.

My dad starts to laugh and he says. "Yeah, okay. That's funny. Am I getting punked? As you kids say nowadays."

Tears threaten to spill over my eyes but I hold them in. Of course my dad would have this reaction and suddenly all my fears come flooding back ten fold. This is not going to go well.

"No, dad. I'm serious." I say with as much bravery I could muster. "I'm transgender, dad."

My dad's smile fades and he becomes serious. "What the hell? That's the fuck is that!?"

Dr. Warner takes over and explains what transgender is.

*Stevie's POV*

This is not going well. I can tell Lindsey is going to say no to Victoria taking the hormone medication. His face says it all.

"So...what you're saying is, my son thinks he's a girl?" Lindsey says once Dr. Warner finishes explaining what transgender is. He looks to Victoria then back to Dr. Warner and says. "So, how are you going to fix him?"

"Mr. Buckingham, there is no fixing her." Dr. Warner says. "Victoria just needs to help being the person she was meant to be."
"Victoria? Who the fuck is Victoria?" Lindsey asks angrily.

"Victoria is our daughter." I say, no longer able to keep quiet. "She is hurting and she just wants to be who she is. The last step is for her take hormones so she can complete her transition."
"You are okay with this? Transition?" Lindsey yells. "You can't be serious?" He stands up and towers over us. "Surely, this is just some twisted phase."

"Dad, please." Victoria speaks up. "Please, let me take the hormones. Sign the papers so I can complete my transition. I'm tired of living in the wrong body. I want my brain to finally match the outside. If you think long and hard about it, you will see that this goes back to when I was little. Dad, remember when all I wanted to do was play with Sara's toys and how much I wanted to wear Sara's dresses. You would always tell me that it was wrong for boys to play with dolls or wear dresses, well, dad, I'm not a boy. I've never been a boy. I'm a girl! This isn't some phase."

Tears are rolling down Victoria's cheeks as she pleads with her father. Dr. Warner then tells Lindsey to calm down and he does a bit. She then tells him what has gone on during our therapy sessions.

Lindsey sits down but he's too stiff and I still see anger in his eyes. I've seen it so many times over the years before our divorce. If this had happened around this time, I'm positive that we would have gotten into it already and we would have gotten physical. I close my eyes and shake myself from the past. I hate that we ever put our hands on each other out of anger.

I notice Lindsey's hands our balled into fists as he continues to listen. I can tell he's about to explode.

Lindsey then stand up again and yells. "Enough! No, I will not sign anything so my son can become a goddamn freak! You're a boy, Ethan! You're not going to be some f*ggot in a dress! You're not a pansy!"

"Hey!" I've had enough; I stand up and look into Lindsey's eyes. Anger coursing through my veins. "How dare you call our child those names!? You will not insult Victoria ever again!"

Lindsey laughs humorlessly and says. "I bet you're enjoying this, Steph. You've always wanted another girl. Now you're trying to turn our son into f*ggot so you can play dress up!"
"Lindsey!" I yell.

"Mr. Buckingham, I will not allow you to use those disgusting words in my office." Dr. Warner said, trying to keep calm. "Mr. Buckingham, your child is suffering and we just want to help her."

"Him! You're trying to help him!" Lindsey yells at Dr. Warner. "Stop enabling this! This is an abomination! You know what...I'm done listening to this bullshit! I'm leaving!"

"Lindsey, please." I say as I step forward to stop him from leaving. Tears roll down my cheeks. "Please help our child."
"No, Stevie!" Lindsey says as he stands face to face to me. "This is sick! Ethan is sick and he needs proper help and I'm going to find it!"

Lindsey turns to leave and out of desperation to get through to him, I gently place a hand on his arm to stop him from leaving.

I did not expect the reaction he had. I think he thought I wanted to hurt him because the next thing I know, I hear a loud smack then I feel a stinging on my cheek.

I gasp loudly and more tears steam down my cheeks. I hold my cheek then look into Lindsey's eyes with such hurt and fear in mine. I thought I was done being hit by Lindsey.

"Mom!" Victoria says as I feel her close to me.
"Mr. Buckingham, I think it's time for you to leave now. Obviously, we are not going to agree on anything." Dr. Warner says.

Lindsey huffs then leaves quickly. I sink into the sofa, quietly sobbing. Victoria wraps her arms around me then I wrap my arms around her.

"I'm sorry, mom." Victoria says. "I...I shouldn't have started this. I'm sorry!"
"Shhh...it's okay, baby." I say. "Don't ever apologize for wanting to be who you are." I pull away and look into my daughter's eyes. I gently hold her face in my hands and say. "Don't apologize. This isn't your fault. I promise to not give up. I'm going to fight for you. You will take those hormones and you will be the girl you were meant to be. I love you so much, Victoria. We will get through this."

Victoria's tears match mine; she nods and hugs me tight. She buries her face in my chest and hold her close rocking her as if she were a small child.

I'm going to keep my promise. I will find a way for Victoria to take those hormones. Because I know that if she doesn't, Victoria will be back to where she was in the beginning. I do not want that! I won't have my child in pain again.