“So where do you want to talk?” I asked Phil over the phone.

“There’s a park not far from my place.” he said, “How about there?”

“Yeah.” I said.

“Do you need directions?” asked Phil.

“No, I’m good.” I said.

“Bring Christopher.” he said.

“G-Got it.” I replied.

Our phone conversation didn’t last that much longer.

“You got a date today?” asked my brother who appeared out of nowhere.

“Did you seriously come into my room without knocking?” I asked.

“It’s fine,” he said, “you have clothes on.”

“No, it’s not fine.” I said.

“So, do you have a date?” asked Sam.

“No!” I exclaimed.

He paused for a second.

“Judging from that look on your face,” he said, “it’s something important, huh?”

“Um… yeah.” I said.

“Be careful.” he said, “And don’t be doing anything you shouldn’t.”

He then left the room. I let out a sigh, before I got myself ready to go. I headed outside and walked to the park that Phil told me to meet him at. It didn’t take me too long to find him standing there with his arms crossed.

“Where’s your cousin?” he asked.

I froze. I wasn’t sure how to answer him. 

“Christina?” he said.

“Oh, um, sorry.” I said.

"You couldn't bring him, could you?” said Phil.

"No... sorry." I responded.

"You're Christopher, aren't you?" he said.

"W-What?" I replied, shocked by his question.

"He suddenly disappears and then you're here and you're too much like him."

"Does this mean you knew...?"

"I had a feeling. I just... wasn't sure until now."

"You really believe it?"

"Of course."

My eyes started watering. I was surprised that he had figured it out. I wasn't expecting him to accept it as reality. As I stood there, he suddenly started hugging me.

"I'm glad that you never went anywhere." he said.

"I'm sorry I kept it from you." I replied.

"So... what happened to you?" he asked, letting go of me.

"Well, the truth is... I'm half alien." I answered, "And I inherited my mother's powers, which turned me into a girl."

"I see." he said.

"I really wasn't expecting you to believe any of this." I said.

"Well, I do know a bit about aliens." responded Phil, "I have read about them, but in the past, I dismissed everything I read as fiction."

"Only girls in my family can use these powers."

"That matches what I read a while ago."

"So, what now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know."

"Things aren't going to change between us just because you're a girl now."

"Th-thanks."

"I told you we'd always be friends even if you're appearance changed."

"I really did feel bad about hiding it."

"Don't worry about it."

"What about Katrielle?"

"I think she's already figured it out."

"What?"

We ended up chatting for a little while and I felt the happiest I had ever been since my transformation. I no longer had to lie to my best friend about who I was. As I talked with him, it felt like how things used to be. I may not be the same as I once was, but I finally got to a point where I could actually accept what had happened to me.