I'm only 18. It never even crossed my mind to become a mother, let alone at such a young age. But when my sister told me about a young girl that came into the orphanage that she works at, my heart ached more than I could bear. So, despite hardly being more than a child myself, I filled in the paperwork, and today, I'll be meeting the ten year old girl who will soon be known as my daughter.

The road to the orphanage is long and bumpy. I've already had two connecting flights and a dozen hours of travel, yet I've still got another 2 hours to go. My stomach, legs, and head are all begging for me to stop. I'm doubled over in the backseat in agony.

"You've changed."

My sister's words are rather curt. She hasn't seen me since she left for college, and in that time, I started estrogen, grew my hair out, and filled my body in.

"I should hope so."

I look up at my sister in the front seat. She's looking back at me in the rear-view mirror, but I can't quite make out what she's thinking. Does she hate me? Surely not, or she wouldn't have told me about this girl. There has to be a certain amount of trust if you're asking someone to take care of a child.

"People down here don't take kindly to that."

"I know. Why do you think I left?"

"Father."

"Well, yeah. That's certainly part of it."

She returns to her silence. I try to zone out the world, and beg for my stomach to keep the little food that I've eaten down. It's already been twelve hours, what's two more?

Eventually, we come to the Red Awning Orphanage that my sister works at. It's a wooden building out in rural Alabama with a, you guessed it, red awning over the door. The sun-worn awning is really more of an orange, with holes in it.

"Do you want to collect yourself first?"

I step out of the car. I've had enough of cars and planes and everything else for now... though, sadly, there is the return trip.

My sister opens the door to the orphanage, and I step in. The front room is a large living space with an ancient TV and some worn out couches sitting on equally worn out rugs. Two kids are playing house as we arrive, and look up at me with wonder.

"You look just like Mrs. Evelyn!"

"Uh..." I look at my sister. Surely there's a bit of familiar resemblance, but I really don't see much other than the hair color. She's slimmer, and well endowed. Despite estrogen trying it's best, I really do still look like a teenage boy.

"She's my sister. She's here for... Kira."

"Do we have a girl with that name here?"

"I don't think so?"

My sister sighs. "Keith. Where is Keith?"

"Outside. We didn't want him playing with us!"

"Follow."

I follow my sister outside, where we search for Kira. Though the building itself seems to be rather small, and generally holds only 2 or 3 children at a time, there is quite a bit of land around here. She could be practically anywhere.

Eventually, we find Kira up in a tree. Based on the dirt and bruises, she's probably been at it for a while, climbing around and playing by herself.

"Kira. This is Jenny."

I can't help but stay quiet for a moment. My sister has never said my name before. And the girl that she's introducing me to, up in the trees, is to be my daughter. This is certainly an odd moment.

I look up at Kira. She's a scrawny kid with brown hair down to her ears. Her skin is tanned from the sun, and covered with dirt and bruises and cuts. She's wearing blue overall shorts and a yellow t-shirt with a green flower on it. She looks rather androgynous, leaning towards boyish.

Kira jumps down from the tree, not quite sticking the landing, but not slowed. She stumbles towards me, and takes my hands. Her brown eyes are practically glowing.

"You're Jenny? I heard all about you! Mrs. Evelyn said that you're just like me, and that you would adopt me!"

"Y-yes. I'm transgender. And, I- I'm not at all familiar with being a mother. I was a kid not long ago, myself, but I'm willing to try. You deserve the best, Kira, and I might not be able to give it to you, but if you're willing to bear with me, we can work through this together. It- it won't be easy, I won't lie, but, um..."

My sister slaps me on the back. "Nobody is perfect. Just do your best."

Kira takes my hands, and jumps up and down. "Can I have my own room?"

"Um, I have a one bedroom apartment."

"Can I have a dog?"

"Um, the lease prohibits pets."

"How about a fish?"

"I-I guess a fish might be okay?"

"Oh! What about clothes! I want dresses!"

"Yes! We'll definitely get you dresses!"

"And skirts?"

"Yes!"

"And I can grow my hair long like yours? And you can make it look all pretty?"

"Yes! You'll be absolutely adorable, I promise you!"

Kira throws her arms around me, squeezing me with all the force that her little body can muster.

I look at my sister, who quickly hides a smile. She's hardly a woman who wears her heart on her sleeves, but it's clear that if there is one thing in this world that she cares about, it's children. She's had a rough life, getting pregnant at 19 by her much older boyfriend, who then left her as she was bleeding out in the hospital suffering from a miscarriage. She dropped out of college and practically dropped off the face of the earth for several years.

My parents were never supportive. They saw my sister as a whore, and they saw me as a freak. But now is my chance to make life just a bit brighter for a young kid out there who needs someone to support them.

Things won't be easy for me. My salary is barely paying rent, and my fridge is just about empty. I need to pay for Kira's school supplies, and clothes, and food, and will have to put her needs above mine. Truth be told, I don't really know that I can do this. But to get Kira out of Alabama, to give her a chance at life...

My sister pats my head.

"If you ever need anything, just ask. Be sure to take good care of Kira, Jenny."

Almost as if she were reading my mind, or perhaps reading the multitude of worries on my face, Eve extends the only hand that I might have. She, herself, isn't in the most stable position, but she can't let me fail.

It won't be a straight road ahead, and it won't be a clear one, but we can do this. I take a deep breath, and hold Kira tight. From today onward, she's my daughter, and I don't care what it takes, I will make her happy.

"I promise."