Donna woke up the next morning and rushed into the bathroom to throw up. What’s wrong with me? She brushed her teeth to remove the taste. Then she filled her hands with cool water and splashed it onto her face.
She heard a knock on the door. Did I sleep that late? What time is it? She didn’t have a clock outside the one in the kitchen, so she went to the front door to answer as a second set of knocks echoed through the living room.
She opened the door. “Sherry.” She pursed her lips.
“Can I come in?”
“Now’s really not a good time.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a little indigestion from last night.”
“I’ll only be a minute. Please?”
Donna sighed and stepped aside.
Sherry entered. She made it inside and stopped about eight feet in.
Donna closed the door and turned around.
“You surprised me, when you kissed me,” Sherry stated.
“And I said I was sorry.”
“I know you did. And I didn’t give you the chance to explain.”
“It doesn’t matter. I learned a lot that day.”
“I don’t think you did. I know I didn’t.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m listening.”
Sherry continued. “When you kissed me, you had just gotten permission to go through with your sex change.”
“Gender reassignment!” she snapped.
Sherry nodded. “Gender reassignment. I mistakenly related that with your actions. For that, I’m sorry.”
“But you’re never going to see me as a man.”
“No, I’m not. I will see you as the person I’ve always known. Look, Donna… You can change your name, you can change your body, but you cannot change who you are.”
“And who do you think I am?” She saw Sherry’s eyes well up.
“My best friend. The one person who has always been there for me. The one person I could always count on.”
Donna’s eyes started to water. She looked down to the floor. “When you admitted you’d never see me as a man, I was crushed. You were always the one who protected me. I was so sure you saw things from my point of view. I never considered yours. And I’d be lying if I told you that it doesn’t hurt despite that.”
“I love you, Donna. I don’t care about your—” She took a deep breath—“For lack of a better word—your sex choice. I know it’s not a choice to you, but I can’t walk that mile in your shoes.”
Donna sighed. “I can’t walk in yours either.”
So where does that leave us?”
Donna saw a sincere expression in Sherry’s face. She gave her a half-smile. “I guess we pick up the pieces and put them back together.”
Sherry smiled. “I think that’s where we need to be. Oh—one thing that’s nagged me since that day. Why did you kiss me? And don’t say you wanted to see what it felt like.”
“But that’s the truth.”
“Come on. There’s more to it than that.”
“When I kissed James, his lips were soft. I didn’t expect that in a man’s lips.”
“Were you afraid you might be making a mistake?”
“No…well, yes… I was temporarily confused.”
“So, were his lips softer than mine?”
“It’s funny. They feel exactly the same.”
“I’d come to the same conclusion when you kissed me. I’d never kissed a girl before.”
“Still haven’t.”
Sherry laughed. “Right. I’d never kissed a man with women’s lips before.”
“There’s one thing more we…” Donna placed her hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she reemerged. “I feel better.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“You were saying?”
“Saying?”
“There’s one thing more—”
“Oh yeah. Please don’t tell Barry about me.”
“Because of James?”
“Yes.”
“You two have become close since your meeting.”
“Who would have thought it?” Again, she covered her mouth and made a B-line for the bathroom.
When she returned, Sherry said. “I didn’t think the food we ate last night was that spicy. I know how you are with spices.”
“I stayed away from the spices. I knew better. But I didn’t eat much last night, anyway.”
“Are you coming down with something?”
“It’s strange. For the last two days, I’ve been really sick in the morning, but by the afternoon, I’m fine.” She saw Sherry’s eyes widen.
“You had better make an appointment to see the doctor.”
“I told you, I’ll be fine in an hour or so.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Donna twisted her eyebrows. “You think I caught something?”
She grinned. “Definitely.”
Donna’s face went blank. “What do you think it is?”
“I’m no physician, but I’d say you’ve come down with a case of Donald Junior.”
Donna’s eyebrows rose in shock. “What?”
“I think you’re pregnant.”
“I-I can’t be pregnant. I mean…”
“Did the condom break?”
“Condom?”
Sherry laughed hard. “Sorry. You didn’t have protection?”
“I didn’t think we’d need it. We only did it one time.”
“How many times do you think it takes?”