Pale Pink Packet Part 5

Pale Pink Packet Part 5

Extremely pent up and still sore around my chest, I throw open the house front door with purpose.

“Mom!” I screech, throwing my bag down into the floor.

Allowing my bag to fall to the wooden floor with a thud, I slam the front door and it rattles the windows.

Startled, Phoebe appears at the end of the hallway. Her face is full of worry and concern.

“Aiden!” she groans, folding her arms tight. “What are you doing? Why are you crashing about!?”

Frowning, I stomp toward Phoebe and move past her without acknowledging her question. I peer into the living room and see that it’s empty.

“Where is she?” I ask abruptly. “Where’s mom?”

“What’s the matter?”

“I need to talk to her right now!” I demand, pushing past Phoebe once again to start looking in the other rooms downstairs.

“Why!?” Phoebe asks urgently, following me. “Did something happen at the gym? I told you I should have come with you for the support!”

“Yeah obviously,” I reply, rushing towards the kitchen to find it completely empty “Is she even here?”

“What happened!?” Phoebe shrieks, standing with her arms out trying to stop me from pushing past her.

Stopping me from passing, I contemplate pushing her over. “Phoebe,” I moan. “Move.”

“She’s not here Aiden,” Phoebe says sternly, standing her ground. “Now will you tell me what you are so upset about!?”

Staring into each other's eyes for a moment, I let out a long sigh before pointing at my bag that I’d left at the entrance to the house. “Let me show you.”

Still seething internally, I walk over to the bag and pull out the Pale Pink Packet. Lifting it to Phoebe, I shove it into her hands.

“These,” I growl. “What do you think these are for!?”

Phoebe looks at the packet for a moment before looking at me confused. “These are your pain meds.”

“Guess again,” I gripe, snatching them from her hand. “Why would I still need to take pain meds now my leg is fixed Pheebs? I ask you….why!?”

Frowning, Phoebe shrugs. “I don’t know Aiden. I guess that doesn’t make sense.”

“Would you like to know what these are!?” I hiss, throwing them across the room and onto the floor.

Turning to watch the packet bounce around on the floor, Phoebe turns back to me with a worried expression.

“Aiden….,” she complains, clearly a little frightened at my attitude.

“HRT,” I shout. “It’s HRT Phoebe. Mom’s been making me take hormones since I got back from the hospital with my cast!”

Feeling betrayed by my own mother, tears begin to stream down my face. I clench my jaw and form fists with my hands. Breathing heavily, Phoebe backs away from me.

“No way,” Phoebe answers as she turns around to pick up the packet. “That’s impossible.”

“Is it!?” I hiss, still fuming.

I watch Phoebe slowly reach for the packet on the floor. As she picks it up, she rolls it between her fingers taking in every detail. Her face scrunches and she itches the back of her head.

“Doesn’t say anything like that,” Phoebe says, looking at me in confusion. “The Life expanding Company. That is an odd name for a pharmaceutical company.”

“It’s HRT Pheebs,” I cry, allowing tears to stream down my face. “Some girl at the gym pointed it out to me. That’s why all of this has happened to my body!”

“I dunno Aiden,” Phoebe doubts. “It doesn’t say anything about HRT on the box. In fact, it barely says anything at all. I am very curious why mom wanted you to continue taking these though. That’s a little strange.”

Sniffing hard, I shake my head.

“It has to be that Pheebs!” I sob.

Phoebe cautiously steps toward me and holds out the pale pink packet. “Here.”

Drying my eyes, I see Phoebe handing them back to me. I snatch them from her hand and look away.

“You don’t believe me do you?” I whine. “No one seems to even care that I’m suffering! I’d have never done this to my own body. I’m not a girl!”

“That’s not fair Aiden,” Phoebe angrily snaps, causing me to swiftly look back in her direction. “I’ve done nothing but try and help you with all this! Who’s been letting you borrow her clothes!? Who’s been doing your hair and makeup!? Who’s been coming into your room each night to make sure you're doing ok!?”

Phoebe’s face goes bright red and it leaves me speechless. She has been so supportive!

“S-sorry,” I sullenly mumble, looking down at my feet “It’s not you that I’m mad at, It’s mom! I want to question her about all this!”

“It’s ok,” Phoebe sighs. “I’ve also been very curious about it. When I ask her if she has any idea why it’s happening to you—she keeps telling me she doesn’t know, but that it’s good and it will keep you safe.”

Wiping tears from my cheeks, I frown.

“Keep me safe?” I quickly question. “Safe from what? Every girl I’ve ever fancied and had a chance with?”

Phoebe doesn’t get a second to answer before my ears are pricked up by the sound of the front door opening. Us both standing in the front hallway, I greet my mother with a face that could kill.

“Hiya Girls,” she chirps, flicking her heeled shoes off as she closes the door behind her.

I clench my teeth and Phoebe’s clearly too worried to say any greeting back.

“Mom…,” I growl, stepping towards her with the pale pink packet in hand. “Do you know what these are!?”

As her cheerful face turns sour on my approach, she looks down at the packet in my hand.

“I don’t like that tone Aiden,” she gripes, folding her arms tight as I wave the packet in her face. “Yes, they are your pain meds.”

“Pain meds!?” I shriek in disbelief at her condescension. “You’ve been giving me HRT, haven’t you!? You knew! You did this to me!! Admit it!”

“Aiden!!” she screeches in fury, staring straight at me in resentment. “You dare talk to me like that again and you’re out on the street young lady!”

As adrenaline courses through my veins and my heart pumps a million beats a second, I knew that reaction was coming from what her! What a liar! I’m ashamed to call her my mother!

I could barely bring myself to look at her face as she scowls in my direction. She knows what she’s done to me and she doesn’t seem to care at all!

“Tell me the truth!” I snarl, stepping closer to square up to her. I’m still just about tall enough to look her directly in the eye.

“GUYS!” Phoebe cries out, trying to come between us. “Stop it! You’re both scaring me.”

Mom ignores Phoebe’s plea and doesn’t even blink. Her eyes are fixated on mine!

“Aiden,” she says through gritted teeth, clearly trying to remain calm. “Take a step back or I won’t hesitate you kick you out of my house.”

“Coward!” I screech, shoving her shoulder. “How can you look at me so straight face and not even contemplate telling me the truth. It all adds up now! Since I broke my leg all of this has happened to my body and I’ve been taking these bloody pills at the same time! Admit you did this to me!!”

As tears fill my eyes, mom doesn’t react to my shove. She just stares and shakes her head. What the hell is wrong with this woman! She’s supposed to be my mother!

“Back away Aiden,” she repeats.

A raging ball of emotions now, there is no way I’m just going to walk away from this. She’s turned my life upside down. I didn’t ask for any of this!

“Tell me the truth!” I squeal, tears now streaming down my cheeks. “Tell me why! T-tell me!”

She says nothing. She just continues to stare as I break down in front of her. I wanted to strike out at her, but I just couldn’t. My body was almost paralyzed by my turbulent emotions. I just want to know why!

Managing to lift my hand, I shove her with all the might of a mouse. She barely moves as my entire face scrunches and I being to cry uncontrollably.

“W-w-why…!?” I scream. “Why!?”

Just as I feel my knees buckling and my will to remain standing fade, I feel Phoebe’s soft and gentle hand grasp mine. She stands beside me like a bright beacon of support.

“Mom,” Phoebe says sternly, gripping my hand tight. “Aiden says someone pointed out that the pills are HRT. Is that true?”

“Phoebe,” mom whines, giving her a swift glance. “Enough.”

“You have to admit the truth sometime, mother!” Phoebe complains, standing strong beside me. “You can’t hide from this. Your son has physically become female. The doctors will eventually find out why!”

As Phoebe’s words land, mom twitches. “This is beyond any doctor,” mom replies coldly.

“So you do know!” Phoebe says, reacting quickly to her response. “Tell Aiden why you’ve forced him to become a girl or we are both leaving and never coming back!”

So happy for Phoebe’s support, I squeeze her hand tight as our mother’s face reacts.

“Tell the truth!” Phoebe demands again. “Or I’m taking Aiden to the Police station.”

Intense moments pass as I stare through my watery eyes at my mother. Her face was no longer stern, but vacant. I could almost see the cogs turning in her mind. She better not tell any more lies!

“Aiden is safer this way,” she says gently, letting out a long breath.

“HOW!?” I scream, throwing my arms down to my sides in pure frustration.

Mom turns away. I can see her psychically shaking as she brings a hand to her face. This is a million miles away from the uncaring stone-like presence she had moments ago.

Shoulders sagging, she covers her eyes and lets out another long breath.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” she whispers through her fingers. “You two have to trust me.”

“How can I?” I instantly retort, wiping tears from my face.

“I know it’s been hard,” she replies, reaching towards the nearby wall for support. “I thought a gradual change in gender would be easier to deal with Aiden. I know it’s difficult getting used to all the facets of being a woman, but you’ve taken to it really well.”

“You’re still not answering me!” I shout in reply. “Why do I need to be a girl!?”

Mom sobs and her shoulders wretch.

“It’s so hard watching you struggle Aiden,” she weeps. “I thought I’d never have to use it on you! I thought we’d be safe! I thought I would be able to guide you through womanhood and you’d learn to adjust, but it’s just created this void between us!”

“SAFE FROM WHAT!?” I scream, slamming my foot hard down onto the floor.