It is never fun being different, no matter whether you came to peace with that fact or not. That's just how the world works and that's what Kisha realised very soon after becoming one of the "amazing bearded women" (no, she was not a part of a circus). Even after years of painful and expensive treatments, Kisha's facial and body hair grew wherever it could- and she accepted the fact that her damned hormones worked like that. What Kisha never got over though was the loss of her, long ago, beautiful voice- now, it was almost as deep as a genetic male's.

She was perfectly happy with her life though, for she had a few best friends who she loved dearly, she had a job that she loved (despite the crazy hours) because she helped people (Kisha was a nurse) and she had a baby sister that meant the world to her. At the age of 23, Kisha and Ana's mother died so Kisha became Ana's guardian. It was not easy raising an eleven-year-old girl but Kisha survived (barely). Kisha adored Ana and tried to give her what she did not have in her childhood (a lot of love and support) and Ana grew into a stunning (if Kisha, as a sister, could say so) woman.

Everything fell apart for Kisha, one Autumn day. Kisha was working, beaming and talking to the patients as she drew blood and/or tended to the wounds, tired because she worked second shift the day before and, here she was, working the first shift. It did nothing to ruin her mood, though. Kisha was merely irritated because she had to work on Ana's twenty-first birthday, from seven to seven.

Kisha became more snappish as the day progressed (and a few of the patients with brain atrophy tried to either kick, choke, punch or bite her). Her head was aching, her back was sending jolts of pain with each step she took (and to think, it was only three in the afternoon) and she had pierced her thumb with the needle she used to take a blood sample from an HIV positive patient. The day has started off nicely and it slowly progressed to being a terrible one.

ththth

Four and a half hours later (because the next shift just could not come on time), Kisha was on her way home. It was not cold outside, despite the rain, so she decided to walk home. She was talking with Ana on the phone, asking how her day was, then telling Ana of hers. They joked and laughed together and the day became a bit better to Kisha.

"Sir!" Kisha heard but ignored until a boy tugged on her hoody. Her mood went down the drain. "You dropped this."

"Thank you and I am a miss, little guy." Kisha chuckled through her irritation.

"You can't be, you have a beard."

"Are you a girl then?"

"No! I'm a boy" The boy stamped his foot.

"Well, you don't have a beard so leave me the hell alone!"

The boy gasped and ran away. Kisha sighed and smiled at the sound of giggles coming from the other end of the connection.

"Not funny, Ana." She grumbled.

"Well, you have to admit, you do look quite a bit like a dude, Kiki." Ana laughed. "I mean, your shoulders are broad, it has been quite some time since you've been on a depilation, your voice is deep and your breasts are smaller than a twelve year old's."

"Ana, you little shit, you're not helping."

"I know!" Ana exclaimed happily. "By the way, our lovely neighbour sent another one of her dashing grandsons to meet with you."

"Did you tell him to go in vagina mater?"

"You could give the guy a chance, Kiki. After all," Ana snickered. "you are an old maid."

"No."

"Come on, your last relationship was six years ago. You need to find yourself a guy, or a girl, to went with."

"Ew. I don't need my baby sister to tell me to have sex."

"I did not say that, you just have a dirty mind."

"So have you."

"And whose fault is that, I wonder."

"Not mine." Kisha grinned. "Hang on, my laces are undone."

Kisha kneeled and placed the phone on the concrete by her left leg. She did not notice a car going straight at her, she didn't even hear the screech of the breaks moments before it hit her.

"Kisha? Kisha?" Ana's panicked voice could be heard from the phone. "KISHA!"

ththth

"What the..." Kisha mumbled when she opened her eyes to the rolling hills and sunny skies. "Where the hell am I?"

"You're on the borders of The Shire, my dear girl." A man, a very tall man, informed her, his blue eyes twinkling. Kisha was not sure how she managed not to notice him immediately. "Tell me, what is a dwarrowdam doing so far away from the protection of the mountains?"

"A dwarrow... What the hell are you talking about?" Kisha, rudely, inquired. "And, why are you wearing robes?"

"Hm," The man squinted at her as he leaned on his staff (Kisha did not notice the staff either). "Do you not who am I?"

"Am I supposed to?"

"My name is Gandalf and Gandalf means..." The man spread his arms dramatically. "Me!"

"No," Kisha drawled. "I was sure it means me."

"Save me from the manners of a dwarf." The man, Gandalf, grumbled.

"Excuse me, but who the hell are you calling a dwarf, you overgrown moth?" Kisha growled, pulling herself to her full height (5 feet, 4 inches- thank you very much).

"You do not know that you are a dwarf?" Gandalf queried, ignoring the insult.

"Look, I know I am shorter than you but I am actually of average height for a female."

"Tell me, my dear, where do you think you are?"

"I was on my way from work, talking to my sister over the phone then I was suddenly here. Am I dead?"

"In your world, I am sure, you are dead but Valar decided to give you life in this one."

"And which world is this?" Kisha hesitantly asked.

"Middle Earth."

"Uh-huh. Okay."

"Are you quite alright?" Gandalf got his answer when Kisha fainted, her body falling heavily upon the grass. "Well, now..." Gandalf the Grey mumbled, staring at the girl. "I was not expecting this."