AN: I feel like I didn't get everything in his past past right, like how I wanted to in my head... so I guess I'll further elaborate as time goes on. Anyways...

"Starting the transition" was basically just having Adam journal a ton about his thoughts about his feelings. The other part of the "transition" was Dr. Madison telling Adam helpful ways to, well, transition, like how to bind his chest with an ace bandage. The more this went on, the more that Adam replaced Gracie, the happier and more content Adam felt about himself.

He would be let out of the "Healing Center" on Friday. It was Tuesday. He had already been there for a week. Adam was scared to leave, though. He knew that the outside world was crueler than this bubble. He was scared to tell his family. He was scared about how people would react. They would hurt him, he knew. The small town in Canada that he lived in wouldn't be accepting. But he had to go through with it. He couldn't revert back to Gracie Torres.

During group the next day, a new girl arrived. Her eyes were blank, but she was beautiful nonetheless. She sat down next to Adam, and looked down.
"Hey," Adam said to her, "I'm Adam." She looked up at him confused.
"Isn't this place for girls only?"
"Um..."
"Oh, got it... I'm Charlotte."
"What do you mean, got it?"
"Well, your a tranny, aren't you?"
"...Yeah. I guess I am..."
"It's alright. I don't care."
Miss Jenkins, the group counselor, walked in, and everyone became quiet. "Hello, girls. And Adam, I suppose. We have a new member today. Would you like to introduce yourself?"
"I'm Charlotte...hi."
"Can you share what brings you here?"
"I'd rather not."
"That's okay. You don't have to. Anyways, today we're going to talk about our families, and our perspectives and obstacles surrounding that. How about you start, Lucy?"
"I just have a dad, and he's a dick. He's a priest. Hypocrital, mindless... I know the Dark Lord is after him and he'll get what he deserves... eternal damnation. And I'll be there, laughing..."
"Okay, Lucy, that's enough. Keira?"
"...I don't... I have my mom... she's real sweet... but she always is... she screams in the night... screams with pleasure and agony... and my brother, Jake, he's all nice, but he's always scaring me, and making fun of my friends, he says they aren't there, and that makes me cry."
"Kelly?"
"I have a mom and a dad, they're both very Catholic and pretty strict. I also have a baby brother, William. He's a cutie. My family's good, though. They're supportive."
"I'm glad to hear that." She smiled. "Adam?"
"My mom's all nice. She can be pretty stern at times though, and even though she loves me, she worries, and is always trying to change me. My dad, who's really my step-dad, is good. We don't talk much, though. And my brother, Drew, who is my step-dad's son, is my best friend... he can be really protective of me, but that's alright."
"Good. Charlotte?"
"My mom's a whore. I'm her only kid. That's about it..."
"We can talk more about this in private. Anyways, now let's talk about the obstacles, and how we can solve our problems..."

The conversation trailed on, and when it was over, it was time for lunch. Adam sat down next to Charlotte.
"Hello, Adam." She greeted.
"Hey. So, why are you here...?"
"I said I didn't want to talk about it."
"I know. I thought that maybe if it was in solace then you might share."
"Well, here, then." Charlotte pulled the neckline of her shirt down to reveal a layering of bandage, tinted red. "I missed. Obviously."
"I'm glad that you did..."
"What about you?"
"This-" Adam proceeded to pull his shirt down, along with his ace bandage, to show the raised branding scar.
"Ouch. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Yours is worse."
"Mine was in cowardice, you were brave enough to live with your problems..."
"It's okay, Charlotte. You're still living with yours, now, which makes you brave."
"But I'm locked up here, away from it. I'm still hiding."
"I guess I am too, then."