Haruka crouched in the long grass behind her house, hoping her mother would not be able to see her, though she knew deep down that no one would come looking. She swiped at her eyes, trying, in vain, to remove the salty water from her cheeks. A lock of her long, blonde hair stuck to her damp, sticky fist, and she yanked at it, her misery turning to anger at the persistent reminder of who her mother wanted her to be.
A hand settled gently on her hunched shoulder, and Haruka whipped around, losing her balance and landing on her tailbone. Pain shot up her back and her breath seized. But not even a moment later she forgot about the pain.
The most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life was standing before her. Her sweet blue eyes were wide with concern, and her perfume wafted delicately through the air between them. Then Haruka's eyes shifted up, to the woman's forehead, and she gasped again. A crescent-shaped birthmark shimmered there. She knew exactly who this woman was, even at the tender age of eight. There wasn't a person on the Moon who didn't.
Haruka discretely wiped her grimy hands on her shorts and sniffed, hoping her nose wasn't as snotty as it felt.
"What's wrong? Can I help you?" the queen asked, her voice upset. She was so close her golden locks fell over her bare shoulders and tickled Haruka's knees.
"Um. . ." she whispered. Indecision clawed at her insides. The truth sat on her tongue heavy as stones, caught in limbo with the fear she had carried for most of her young life.
"I . . ." she stared into the queen's kind eyes and felt a barrier in her heart give way. "I'm a girl," she whispered, "and a boy . . . at the same time."
"I see," the queen murmured, smiling prettily. She reached out and ran feather-light fingertips along Haruka's cheekbone, collecting forgotten tears, and Haruka startled, unused to such gentle touch. There was such a strong, undiluted expression of sorrow in the queen's eyes, despite the lingering smile, that Haruka was instantly possessed with the desire to make it leave.
It wasn't until many years later that she realized what had caused the queen's grief, and why.
But at the time, wonder and naivety clouded her vision, and when the queen offered her a hand, she took it without question. She felt light, like her soul could spread feathery wings and fly. The queen didn't think any differently of her!
The queen helped her to her feet, and then, Haruka's hand still clasped in hers, said, "If I talk to your mother, would you like to come live with me?"
Haruka had never been so sure of anything in her life. Her mother expressed her volatile temper with ear-splitting screeches and slammed doors and raised hands, while everyone knew that Queen Serenity was kind and gentle and loving. But most importantly, she wasn't ashamed of Haruka's secret.
"Yes, your Majesty."
"Call me Serenity," she said.