The darkness falls on the town and I need to break out the flashlight in order to read. I'm back in the car. I told myself that I'd never go back to this. I promised myself I would never live like this again.

But here I am. Kicked out of a warm bed and back in this yellow bug. I could be worse though. At least I have the car.

I'm not on the streets.

The car is warm and has locks, I've lived here for years before, I don't know why a week of this is bothering me.

Because if you ever want your kids to be with you, you are going to have to do better than this.

—

I lean against the brick wall. I scan the streets. Other than a few people walking, it is clear.

Amusing myself, I wonder what magical fairy tale characters they are. Sarcastically, I picture the hairy dude jogging as the beast. I chuckle to myself.

"Hi," a feminine child's voice, trying to be masculine, startles my thoughts.

I turn and see Daniel. "Gheez kid you scared me," I sigh.

I notice the braids. Her, his I correct in my mind automatically, long brown hair brushed and braided intricately.

Anticipating my question, Daniel mumbles, "My mom did them. She likes to do my hair."

"Do you like her doing your hair?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Umm it's fine," he says looking down at the sidewalk, and then looking up, "Hey we don't want to be late."

A quick glance at the clock tower confirmed that point.

—

"So Sophie, why did you want to see me?"

I glance over at the kid on the couch and stays silent.

An uncomfortable cough comes from Archie, the spineless shrink. "Well Emma, maybe I can ask you a question. Yesterday, with Henry you mentioned someone named Daniel? Perhaps you could elaborate?"

Geez I messed up. In all the emotions I didn't even realize I said Daniel. Wow I screwed up.

A hand touches my arm.

Green eyes look at me. Daniel's head nods. He mouths can you please. There are a bit of tears in his eyes.

I squeeze his hand in reassurance.

"Do you want to go in the hall for a bit? I'll come get you in a minute." I say and try to give a reassuring smile.

He nods and leaves. I wait for the door to click shut and then I stand. I get close to Dr. Hopper. Once we are face to face I can threaten effectively.

"If you dare to even think about telling anything I tell you or he tells you to her. If you tell or imply anything to Regina, I will end you. I will end your career, you got it?"

His face contorted in fear, good I think.

He swallows hard before speaking, "U-Umm I can be con-confidential. But um I if you would like Sophie to have sessions with me then I'm afraid someone would have to pay the fee. Normally Regina's insurance pays almost all, but if you don't want her to know-"

"I'll pay," I say dismissively despite not having money. "You understand not a word leaves this room?"

A scared "understood" is whispered.

I plop back down on the coach. I shoot him a subtly reassuring smile.

"So Daniel is the kid outside in the hall. He is a boy, a transgender one, you have a degree right? In like the mind? So I'm sure you know what that is," I pause thinking about all the terrible doctors I've had in my life and narrow my eyes. "Hopefully you do, I'm sure I'm about to be paying you enough."

His eyes widened behind his stupid glasses. Maybe it's my imagination but I think he is sweating.

Geez this guy really is scared of Regina. This was probably a really bad idea.

"Wow okay," his face still seems pretty shocked and he adjusts his glasses. "That does put a lot of things into perspective with last time you were here and I guess a couple of times Henry mentioned a Daniel, I assumed it had to do with the curse but this does clear some things. Of course I do have knowledge about working with transgender children and helping with gender dysphoria, although I haven't had any transgender patients."

I raise my eyebrows, "So we good? Can you help him and keep your mouth shut?"

The coward stutters yes and more nonsense but it comforts me enough.

I gave him one more stare down before getting up and walking to the door.

I open the old paint-chipped door knob towards me to grab the kid from the hall. He is sitting right in front of me, clearly listening.

I lean down to his level and try to give him a reassuring smile. "He is all ready for you kid, you want me to wait out here?"

Daniel takes a shaky breath and looks ahead. "No I can do this, I think."

I give his shoulder a squeeze (what are you supposed to do when a kid is about to do something hard? Give them a lollipop?)

I sit down in the hall and watch him go in.

—

I look forward at the mansion the boys call home. This yellow car can't even measure up.

Daniel had just gone inside. Henry is inside too, at least he should be, you never really know for certain with that kid.

I start the engine. Regina should be home in thirty minutes from her meeting.

As much as it hurts, I drive away.