Carol rubbed her (still her, but probably not for much longer) hand across her cheek. There it was. Everyone who saw her would know, although she had already informed her family, friends and teachers shortly after being diagnosed. There was no point keeping it a secret.
Carol's first reaction had been horror and disgust. She like being a girl, and it seemed so wretchedly unfair that her womanhood was being taken away from her for no real reason. Why did Second Puberty even exist? Why were all of her life plans suddenly a heap of ruins? Why were her girl friendships disappearing? (She had been warned about that, but it was still amazing how quickly it happened.)
But lately she had found herself focusing more on the male future than the female past. Now that she knew that what was happening to her body wouldn't kill her (and she was one of the lucky ones for whom the process was mostly painless) there was no denying that it was interesting. And the new muscles of her arms and legs had their uses, and she sure wasn't going to miss periods. . .Even when Ryan had broken up with her, it was sad, but it also felt like it was closing the books on a phase of her life that was ending, another thing crossed off the list.
Carol went through a quick set of reps with the weights she had bought with her own money after the diagnosis. Then she made a muscle and admired it in the mirror. Then, trembling, she pulled down her pants to check out the latest developments downstairs, Yeah, there it was (bigger than Ryan's, she thought with an obscure satisfaction). And the testicles had moved into their new home as well. And the female parts had closed down permanently.
Carol looked at the familiar/unfamiliar face in the mirror. "I'm a guy" he said.