"What are you doing? Are you... wearing my mini-skirt?"

Karen's voice echoed in the room, but Sofia wasn't scared. She knew her sister wouldn't judge her. Karen had always been her biggest supporter, her confidante, and her role model.

"It's just... I like how it looks," Sofia replied, blushing a little. "I feel... like Sofia when I wear it."

Karen smiled and approached her sister. She took her hand and turned her gently so she could see herself in the mirror.

"You look beautiful, Sofia," she said sweetly. "That skirt looks perfect on you."

Sofia looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Karen's skirt reached her knees and gave her an air of an older girl that she loved. She felt like herself, at last.

"Thank you, Karen," Sofia said, her eyes filled with tears of emotion. "You always understand me."

"I'll always be here for you, Sofia," Karen assured her, hugging her tightly. "No matter what happens, you'll always be my little sister."

That night, Karen taught Sofia how to put on makeup and do her hair like a girl. She lent her some of her dresses and shoes, and together they felt like two princesses.

"You know, Sofia?" Karen said as they looked at each other in the mirror. "You're the bravest and most special girl I know. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Thank you, Karen," Sofia replied, with a radiant smile. "You're very special to me too."

After the night Karen dressed her like a girl, Sofia felt different. She was no longer just Daniel, the boy who played with cars and climbed trees. Now she was also Sofia, the girl who put on her sister's clothes and put on makeup in front of the mirror.

At first, Sofia felt a little confused. She didn't understand why she felt this way, why she liked dressing up as a girl so much. But Karen helped her understand. She explained that some people are born in a body that doesn't match their gender identity, and that it's nothing bad.

"The important thing is that you feel comfortable and happy with yourself," Karen told her. "And if you feel like Sofia, then you are Sofia."

Those words resonated in Sofia's heart. For the first time, she felt that someone really understood her. She no longer had to hide or be ashamed of what she felt.

Little by little, Sofia began to express her gender identity more openly. She began to wear girl's clothes at home, and then also on the street. At first, she felt a little nervous, but Karen was always by her side to support her.

One day, Sofia and Karen went shopping together. Sofia wanted to buy her own girl's clothes, and Karen accompanied her enthusiastically.

"What do you think of this dress?" Karen asked, showing her a pink dress with ruffles.

"It's beautiful," Sofia replied, her eyes lit up. "I want to try it on."

In the fitting room, Sofia felt nervous at first. She had never tried on girl's clothes in a store before. But when she saw herself in the mirror with the dress on, she felt happy and confident in herself.

"I love it," Sofia said, with a radiant smile. "I'm going to take it."

From that day on, Sofia felt freer and happier than ever. She no longer had to pretend to be someone she wasn't. She was Sofia, a girl who expressed her gender identity with pride and courage.

One day, Sofia's mother returned from a work trip. When she saw Sofia and Karen walking in the park, dressed as two girls, she felt an uncontrollable fury.

When they arrived home, the mother slapped Karen, scolding her for "perverting" her brother. Karen, her face red and her eyes full of tears, could not defend herself. Sofia, terrified, ran to her room and locked herself in.

That night, Sofia couldn't sleep. Her mother's words echoed in her head, filling her with guilt and confusion. Was it wrong what she felt? Was she a "perverted" girl by her sister?

Karen, despite the pain and humiliation, went to see Sofia in her room. She hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear: "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Sofia. You are a wonderful and brave girl. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Karen's words comforted Sofia. She knew that her sister loved her and accepted her as she was. And that was the most important thing.

Eight years later, Sofia turned 16 years old. She was a beautiful and self-confident young woman. She had overcome the criticism and rejection of her mother, and had found her place in the world.

At her birthday party, Sofia wore a beautiful pink dress that Karen had given her. Her mother, although she still didn't understand her completely, had learned to respect her and love her as she was.

While she was getting ready for the party, her mother helped her with her hair. "You look beautiful, daughter," she said with a smile.

"Thank you, Mom," Sofia replied, excited.

At the party, Sofia danced and sang with her friends and family. She felt happy and proud to be who she was.

At the end of the night, Sofia approached Karen and hugged her tightly. "Thank you for everything, sister," she said with her eyes full of tears. "I will always be grateful for your love and support."

"I'll always be here for you, Sofia," Karen replied, with a sweet smile. "You're my little sister and I love you just the way you are."

Sofia smiled. She knew she had a long way to go, but with the love and support of her sister, she could overcome any obstacle.