Tucker and Chris drag their feet as they approach the stone building. Even though it resembles a small castle, what goes on in there wouldn't be classified as elegant. They take a deep breath as they push through the doors. Hand in hand they slowly trudge down the aisle between the pews. They squeeze their hands as they walk down the stairs to the dimly lit basement. Two wooden chairs sit back to back as they always do. Chris lightly kicks one of the wires coming out of the chairs as they take their seat. Tucker leans his head back so that it rests on his friend's shoulder as Chris leans into him. They feel bad that they have to go through this, but they're happy they get to go through it together.
"Good children, you're already in your places. Are you happy that the last day of school for seniors is next week?" Doctor Levander asks as he walks in.
They ignore him as usual. He uses the leather straps attached to the chair to secure their arms and legs.
"You children should be grateful you're receiving help, but if you want to give the silent treatment then that's fine. I'm here to help you. You'll thank me later on in life when you realize that this is unnatural," the doctor explains.
His assistant and wife, Dr. Trillian, walks in with a remote in her hand. "You kids know the drill. We show you pictures or ask you a question. If you answer correctly then great, if you give the wrong answer then," she presses the big round button on her remote.
The shock barely makes them flinch because that was just a practice one and it's been way worse. The doctors turn on the TVs in from of them. In front of each of them are pictures of a hallway with two bathrooms. Dr. Levander who usually always works with Chris stands by his side while Dr. Trillian strokes the top of Tucker's head.
"Think hard and choose carefully," she begins. "Which bathroom do you go into?" They ask in unison.
Tucker gulps as he responds with the boy's bathroom. Chris can feel the slight buzz from the jolt she gave him as they admire their friend's courage. Chris earns a shock for their self when they say they don't know yet. The two doctors shake their heads.
"Renée, you are a beautiful girl. You haven't gotten the surgery so there is still time. I just want to help you, beautiful," Doctor Trillian leans down so that they are face to face. "Let us talk girl to girl. I know you have this idea in your head but this is my last chance to break you of this before you go into the world. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life pretending you're a boy?"
He takes a deep breath and Chris prays his friend will comply. Of course, he does not.
"First of all, my name is Tucker and I am a boy until next week when I become an eighteen-year-old man. I've been using the boy's bathroom since ninth grade. My friends and family have used male pronouns since the ninth grade. I am not, nor did I ever believe that I was a girl. So no we will not talk girl to girl because there is only one definite female in this room," He finishes while glaring intently at the doctor.
Her gaze hardens as she scowls down at him. She stands up and turns the dial on her remote to 5 before she shocks him for a good 30 seconds. His muscles tense up but he doesn't make a sound but rather takes sharp, intense breaths. His bravery gives Chris a burst of confidence.
"I am undecided about my gender. So I do not know which I'd chose. It fluctuates between either, sometimes neither, or maybe both. I could be a different gender altogether," Chris explains in a sing-songy type way that they always do.
This earns him a shock but Dr. Levander's remote is still at one. Each doctor asks them what pronouns should be used to describe them.
"I've already answered that," Tucker answers before getting a quick shock.
"They/them is nice since I am currently unsure about what my gender is," Chris explains for what they feel is the nine-hundredth time before receiving their shock as well.
They unstrap the teens from the chairs and lead them into the room next door. The uninviting silver walls make the room seem like the type they use during an interrogation. Despite the fact that they've been doing this since their parents dropped them off in the 9th grade they still get anxious when entering this room. They automatically lay down on the hard hospital type beds with their arms out and legs spread. They get strapped down and get a strap across their foreheads this time. The doctors decide to use the remote that controls both beds at once. Dr. Levander starts with it.
"Imagine that you two are adults in the world. Renée, you are telling people your name is Tucker, you've gotten surgery and you believe you are a man. Chris, you still question your gender, using they/them pronouns for the rest of your life as you do now," he instructs them.
They do as they are told. Tucker imagines having his name finally, legally changed to that. He isn't sure if he likes girls, boys, both, or neither, but he still pictures his flat-chest covered with an expensive suit on his wedding day. He hopes to get over his gender dysmorphia by then so he can proudly reveal his body to his love on that night, whoever it may be.
Chris envisions themself naked at first, unsure of which clothes to put on. Yes, they were born a boy but they don't exactly feel that way all the time. They then picture themself in regular black jeans and a t-shirt. They still have their pixie cut which makes them look androgenous still and they are happy that way. People think that because they're questioning their gender and sexuality they are unhappy or confused. Chris doesn't mind not knowing, even though he is leaning towards being gender neutral.
Both friends have smiles on their faces that are temporarily erased everytime they get a shock.
"Now imagine things the right way. Renée a beautiful girl in women's clothing happy with her husband. Chris, you handsome young man, happy with your wife and comfortable with your masculinity," Dr. Trillian tells them.
"No," Tucker and Chris reply in unison before receiving their shock.
"I've said it a million times and I'll keep saying it until I die. I am a boy named Tucker. Renée Mylan does not exist," He admits proudly before receiving a slight shock.
"I am gender neutral. I am not a boy like it wrongly says on my birth certificate nor am I a girl. I shouldn't be forced to pick one and honestly I admirer Tuck for knowing what he wants," Chris replies shakily.
Dr. Trillain looks furious as she snatches the remote away from her husband. She turns the dial until it can't go anymore which is a level 12 shock. The highest either of them had ever gotten was an 8 but only for a split second at a time.
"You two are going to learn. It worked for our son, but you are just being difficult. I will not let your parents down. You will leave here the right way whether you want to or not," Dr. Trillian shrieks as she presses the button.
She grabs her husband by the lab coat as they enter the hallway. This time they cannot help but scream as electricity surges through them. Whoever invented the shock technology knew what they were doing when they made this. It is enough that the pain is torturous but not high enough to kill them. They shout on the top of their lung as they wriggle around in the beds. Then everything goes black.
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