"What's it like? Does it hurt when you change shape?" I had wanted to ask Gemma this question for weeks, but never had the guts to get it out there. She smiled and stepped into my bedroom, sitting next to me on the floor.

"It only hurts for a few seconds, kind of like I have a Charlie horse in every muscle, but then I'm so full of adrenaline, it doesn’t matter. It's kind of cool. I feel so strong and powerful. I mean, being able to move so fast and sense things more is great- but, sometimes…it's just…”

Gemma's eyes welled up and her shoulders shook. She threw herself forward and I caught her in a tight hug, stroking her hair and making small hushing sounds.

"I'm so scared, Ascher. I don't know what to do. I want to tell Mom and I don't want to tell Mom.” Gemma's breath caught as sobs raked her body and forced her to silence. I held her, the guilty pang in my stomach now gnawing with such force I felt as if my skin were about to burst.

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