Mik lay on their bed, one hand absently stroking Nebula's sleek black fur. The cat's golden eyes, seeming to hold the secrets of the universe, gazed back at them with uncanny understanding.

  "At least you get me, don't you, Neb?" Mik whispered. Nebula responded with a deep purr, butting her head against Mik's chin as if to say 'Always.'

  Sometimes Mik wondered if Nebula could see right through them, past all the confusion and fear to who they really were. The cat had a way of appearing whenever Mik felt most lost, as if she could sense their distress.

  A knock at the door interrupted their moment of feline therapy. "Mik? Can I come in?" It was Shae's voice.

  "Sure," Mik called, sitting up.

  Shae entered, her braids swinging as she moved. She sat on the edge of Mik's bed, her warm eyes taking in the astronomy posters on the walls, the half-finished painting of a nebula on Mik's desk, the baggy clothes scattered across the floor. Her gaze was gentle, understanding.

  "So, I hear someone rocked their presentation today."

  Mik couldn't help but grin. "You heard already?"

  "Are you kidding? Your mom called me the minute you got home. She was practically bursting with pride." Shae's expression softened. "And how are you feeling? About everything?"

  Mik knew Shae wasn't just asking about the presentation. They sighed, picking at a loose thread on their bedspread. "I don't know. Good, I guess? But also... scared."

  Shae nodded understandingly. "Have you thought more about telling them?"

  Mik had come out to Shae three weeks ago, during one of their private martial arts lessons. They'd been practicing a particularly challenging kata when suddenly the words had tumbled out: "I don't think I'm a girl." Shae had simply paused the lesson, sat with them on the mat, and listened as years of confusion and fear poured out. When Mik finally ran out of words, Shae had simply hugged them and said, "I'm honored you trust me with this."

  "I want to," Mik admitted now. "But with everything going on with Alex, and Dad's business struggles... it never seems like the right time."

  Shae placed a gentle hand on Mik's shoulder. "Listen to me, little warrior. There's never a perfect time for big changes. But you don't have to carry this alone. Whatever happens, I've got your back."

  Dinner that night was a subdued affair. Alex picked at his food, his face pale. Mik's parents exchanged worried glances when they thought the kids weren't looking.

  "So, Mik," their dad said, clearly trying to lighten the mood, "tell us more about your presentation. Your mom says you had the whole class captivated."

  As Mik recounted their speech, they felt a flicker of the confidence they'd experienced earlier. For a moment, they considered blurting out their truth right then and there. But then Alex coughed, a rattling sound that made everyone wince, and the moment passed.

  Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Mik crept down the hallway to Alex's room. Their brother was fast asleep, the family tablet still clutched in his hands. Carefully, Mik extracted it and tiptoed back to their room.

  Logging onto their favorite forum, "Cosmic Connections - Where Sky Watchers Unite," Mik felt a familiar sense of belonging wash over them. Here, among fellow space enthusiasts, they could just be themselves.

  StarGazer101: Guess who gave a killer presentation on the possibility of alien life today?

  The responses were immediate and enthusiastic.

  NebulaNerd: Way to go, Star! Wish I could've seen it! GalacticPioneer: That's our Star, spreading the cosmic gospel!

  As Mik was about to log off, a new message notification popped up. It was from a user they'd seen around but never interacted with directly: CelestialObserver.

  CelestialObserver: Hey there, StarGazer. Heard about your presentation. I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on extraterrestrial life. Got time to chat?

  Something about the message made Mik's heart race. The words seemed to glow with an inner warmth, carrying a depth of genuine interest that felt different from typical forum interactions. They found themselves typing back immediately.

  StarGazer101: Sure! Though fair warning - once I start talking about space, it's hard to get me to stop.

  CelestialObserver: Good thing the universe is infinite then. Tell me, what first made you look up at the stars and wonder?

  What followed was unlike any online conversation Mik had ever had. CelestialObserver asked questions that seemed to tap directly into Mik's deepest thoughts about the cosmos. They discussed not just facts and theories, but the emotional impact of contemplating humanity's place in the universe. When Mik mentioned feeling small and insignificant sometimes, CelestialObserver responded with words that seemed to resonate with their very soul.

  CelestialObserver: The vastness of space doesn't make us insignificant - it makes every moment of consciousness, every connection between beings, all the more precious and miraculous. Your thoughts, your questions, your way of seeing the universe... they matter, StarGazer.

  It was late when Mik finally signed off, their mind whirling with new possibilities. As they drifted off to sleep, their last thought was of vast, star-filled skies.

  In their dreams that night, Mik floated through a cosmos of impossible beauty. Nebulae twisted into ethereal shapes, forming faces and figures of every conceivable kind. Some had multiple arms, others seemed made of pure light, and still others shifted between forms like cosmic dancers. Yet all moved in perfect harmony, their differences creating a breathtaking celestial ballet.

  At first, Mik felt like an outsider watching this cosmic dance. But gradually, they realized they were part of it. Their own form began to shift and flow with the others, sometimes feeling more feminine, sometimes more masculine, often somewhere in between or beyond entirely. And it felt right, natural, as if they were finally seeing themselves as they truly were.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The stars around them pulsed with warmth, like countless heartbeats in the void. Each one seemed to whisper: "You are exactly as you should be."

  Nebula appeared in the dream, but she wasn't quite herself. Her black fur contained galaxies, and her golden eyes held entire solar systems. She wound herself around Mik's shifting form, purring with a sound like distant starlight.

  Then the dream shifted, and Mik found themselves in a vast space that felt both infinite and intimate. Countless beings of light surrounded them, each one unique, each one perfect in their difference. A gentle voice, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere, spoke directly to their heart: "In the infinite vastness of space, there are no boxes, no labels, only the freedom to be. Your truth is written in the stars themselves."

  As Mik floated among these beings of light, they felt something they'd never experienced before - complete and total acceptance. Not just of who they were, but of who they were becoming. Their fears about their family's reaction seemed to dissolve like stardust, replaced by a deep knowing that love - real love - embraces all forms.

  Mik woke with tears in their eyes and a certainty in their heart. Nebula lay curled at their feet, her golden eyes reflecting the first light of dawn. The dream still pulsed within them, its message clear: it was time to share their truth with those they loved.

  At breakfast, Mik's hands shook as they helped set the table. Their mom was at the stove, flipping pancakes. Their dad sat reading the news on his tablet, his brow furrowed. Alex slouched in his chair, looking tired but managing a small smile when Mik caught his eye.

  "Um," Mik started, their voice quavering. "Can I... can I talk to you all about something?"

  Their parents looked up, concern immediately etching their features.

  "Of course, honey," their mom said, turning off the stove. "What is it?"

  Mik took a deep breath, Shae's words echoing in their mind: 'You don't have to carry this alone.' They thought of their dream, of the acceptance they'd felt in that cosmic dance.

  "I'm... I'm not a girl," Mik said, the words tumbling out. "Or a boy. I'm... I think the term is non-binary. And I'd like to use they/them pronouns."

  For a moment, there was silence. Mik's heart pounded so loudly they were sure everyone could hear it.

  Then Alex sat up straighter, his previously sleepy expression now alert and serious. He looked directly at Mik, his voice quiet but firm. "You're still my favorite person in the whole world, you know that? Even if you spilled soda on my Pokemon cards last month."

  A choked laugh escaped Mik's throat, tears pricking at their eyes.

  "And you're still going to help me beat level 12 of Stellar Conquest, right?" Alex continued, but his eyes were saying something deeper: I see you. I accept you. I love you.

  Their dad spoke next, his voice gentle. "Thank you for telling us, Mik. I... I can't say I understand everything about this, but I want to. We love you, no matter what. You're our child, and nothing will ever change that."

  Their mom nodded, tears in her eyes. She walked around the table and pulled Mik into a hug. "Oh, sweetheart," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "We're here for you. Always. And we'll figure this out together, okay?"

  Alex got up from his chair and joined the hug, wrapping his arms around both of them. "Group hug!" he announced, then added in a whisper only Mik could hear, "Best sibling ever."

  As Mik melted into the embrace of their family, they felt a weight lift from their shoulders. There would be challenges ahead, they knew. Explanations to give, adjustments to make. But in this moment, surrounded by their family's love, Mik felt a glimmer of the acceptance they'd been longing for.

  Their dad joined the hug last, completing the circle of unconditional love. "So," he said, his voice rough with emotion but trying for lightness, "does this mean we can finally paint your room that galaxy pattern you've been talking about?"

  Mik laughed through their tears, feeling truly seen for perhaps the first time in their life.

  "There's actually something else," Mik said, gathering their courage while still wrapped in their family's embrace. They reached up to touch their long hair. "I'd like to cut my hair. I've been wanting to for a long time."

  "Now?" Alex asked, his eyes widening with excitement. "Can we do it now?"

  Jenn wiped her eyes, composing herself. "I could take you to a salon this weekend if you'd like, sweetie."

  "Actually," Mik said, an idea forming, "I was thinking maybe Shae could do it? She mentioned once that she used to cut her siblings' hair growing up."

  Michael nodded, his expression warm. "That's a great idea. I'll give her a call."

  Two hours later, Shae arrived with a professional set of hair-cutting scissors, her face beaming with pride when Michael explained why they'd called.

  "Are you sure about this?" Shae asked, the scissors glinting in her hand as she stood behind Mik in the bathroom.

  Mik met their own eyes in the mirror, heart racing with a mixture of nervousness and exhilaration. Their long hair, which had always felt like someone else's expectation draped over their shoulders, was gathered in Shae's hands. "I've never been more sure of anything."

  From the doorway, Mom watched with misty eyes, a smile that was both sad and proud playing on her lips. Dad stood beside her, his arm around her waist, steady as always. Alex sat cross-legged on the closed toilet lid, practically bouncing with excitement.

  "I think it's going to look awesome," Alex declared, giving Mik a thumbs-up. "You're going to look like you."

  The simple truth of a child. Mik smiled at their brother, gratitude welling up. "Thanks, squirt."

  "Last chance," Shae warned, though her eyes were twinkling. "Once I start cutting, there's no going back."

  "That's sort of the point," Mik said, their voice steadier than they expected. "I don't want to go back."

  Shae nodded, understanding the deeper meaning in Mik's words. "Alright then. Here we go."

  The first snip was the loudest, the weight of severed strands suddenly gone from one side. Mik watched, mesmerized, as locks of dark hair fell to the bathroom floor like pieces of a past self. With each cut, something inside them seemed to lighten, to rise, to breathe easier.

  Shae worked methodically, her martial arts precision evident in how she handled the scissors. She didn't rush, treating each cut with the same respect she gave to every kata she taught. "Your hair has good structure," she commented as she worked. "It's going to look great short."

  When she finished and stepped back, the person in the mirror looked both strange and familiar. Their neck felt exposed, cool air brushing against skin that hadn't felt it in years. The short, textured cut framed their face in a way that wasn't exactly masculine or feminine, but something uniquely Mik. It felt right.

  Mik reached up, running their fingers through the short strands, marveling at how different it felt. How light. How free.

  "Well?" their dad asked softly. "What do you think?"

  Mik couldn't find the words at first, emotions bubbling up too quickly. Finally, they managed, "I think... I think this is who I've always been."

  Mom stepped forward then, brushing away loose hairs from Mik's shoulders. Her fingers lingered for a moment, as if remembering when she used to braid that same hair for school. But there was no regret in her touch, only love. "You look beautiful, Mik. In the truest sense of the word."

  Nebula chose that moment to saunter in, winding between Mik's legs as if to inspect the transformation. After a thorough examination, she sat back on her haunches and blinked slowly up at Mik, golden eyes full of the same acceptance they had always held.

  Later, as Mik swept up the discarded hair—enough to fill a small bag—Alex asked, "What are you going to do with it?"

  Mik considered the question. These strands had been part of their journey, but not part of their future. "I think I'll plant it in Mom's garden," they decided. "Hair makes good fertilizer. Something new can grow from it."

  That night, when Mik stood at their bedroom window, stargazing, they caught their reflection in the glass. For the first time in as long as they could remember, the person looking back felt wholly, completely right.