Secunda Facie

Year 33: The ritual was neither painful or traumatic. The decision and the aftermath would not be nearly so pleasant Georg warned. After ten days, Michael was now a new person.

“I don't feel different,” he commented.

“You won't immediately, but give it time. At the core, you're the same, but it's all the details that have changed.”

Four weeks later, Michael felt bloated and vaguely ill. Another two days passed and he started excreting a white fluid and experiencing hot flashes. He found himself irritated at small matters and had trouble concentrating. Georg took careful notes from Michael's journal while commenting that this was all unremarkable, considering the circumstances. Morgan's only comment was “if someone who normally gives one hundred fifty percent is now only giving a hundred ten, is it really lethargy?”

One night, Michael dragged himself into Morgan's bedroom and clung to his brother for comfort. Morgan sensed agitation and nausea from Michael and tolerated Michael scraping skin from him. Morgan fell asleep with blood welling up from his arms.

The next morning, Michael was asleep still curled around Morgan's arm. Morgan could smell dried and fresh blood. Morgan checked his arm. The bloody welts were crusted. The fresher smell wasn't straight blood. It smelled rich with hormones. Michael groaned subconsciously as Morgan sat up. Morgan's hand probed his brother's leg. It came away wet. The scent was pungent. “Michael, wake up.”

It took some prodding to get Michael aware enough to notice the blood on Morgan's hand. A pang went through him like he'd been stabbed with skewers. The sheets had a deep garnet stain beneath him. “Wha...?”

Morgan wrinkled his nose, a mild expression of surprise on his face. He blandly observed, “You are menstruating.”