Variants past 2

Author’s note: A little while ago, I created a alternate to my past where I met a very different doctor to the one who abused me. Now, after the Sandusky verdict, I got an idea for a yet another take ...

The trial had gone on for a long time. Not that the guilt of the accused was in much doubt, but the sheer number of victims and evidence took a considerable period. But at last it was over, and the guilty verdict announced, there was only one step left to take.

The sentence.

But before that, the victims were given a chance to give impact statements, which was why a very young boy was making his way to the courthouse, where he would wait until his name was called.

As the victims stepped forward one after the other, he squeezed the hand of his mother who sat with him.

“You doing okay?” She asked.

He nodded.

Finally, it was his turn, and he approached the witness box, a place he had missed out on during the actual trial - the prosecution deciding that a doped up pre-teen didnt make the best of witnesses.

“Thank you for letting me speak today” He began, “ I .. I dont know how to describe what the defendant did to me. There just arent words that cover it. But I want you to know, Dr. Smith,” He glared at the doctor, “What you did to me isnt all I am. I’m hurt, and going to hurt for a long time, but I will get better. You didnt destroy me.”

“There’s just one other thing I want to say. I told the doctor a secret, and he used that against me. So from now on, no more secrets. The thing I told the doctor was that I feel like a girl, not a boy. I dont know what that means for me, but its how I feel. Given the choice I’d be a girl, starting today and for the rest of my life. But that didnt give him the right to use that secret to make me serve him. And it doesnt make me a bad person, or a sissy, or whatever.”

He went to step down, but the judge raised a hand and said “One moment. First, if it was up to you, what would happen to the defendant? And secondly, do you mean what you say about being a girl? Your words are going on the official records, I should remind you, not to mention your family is here.”:

“As for the defendant, as long as he’s never given a position where he can harm kids, I dont care what else happens to him. And yes, I meant what I said. I know I didnt have to swear to tell the truth like the witnesses did, but I’d do it gladly. I feel like I’m a girl inside. I just dont know how to get my insides out.”

“Would you be able to trust an adult to help you? I know some therapists who have studied gender issues.”

The boy hesitated, and then said, “Okay. As long as they dont try and ‘cure’ me. Had enough of that to last me a lifetime.”

“I’ll see what I can do. And thank you.”

“Thank you, your honor.”

Then he stepped down from the stand, and went to his mother.

And into the first day of a brand new life.