Connor called his girlfriend Sanya. They weren't exactly dating at the moment but they did have an on again and off again thing going. She was the only person he knew who merged. They hadn't met before it, but from what Connor understood her parents volunteered for an experimental program where CPS would merge kids they had trouble placing in foster homes with children of the same age who had a healthy family dynamic.
Sanya was previously a girl named Tanya, and a boy named Sam. According to her Tanya was head cheerleader, and Sam was a creepy kid who was a little too interested in blood.
Sanya was neither of those people. She was a hot goth girl, who liked both unicorns and the macabre. She spoke to him soothingly. "It isn't death. I can't explain how I'm both and neither at the same time, but let me assure you, life does go on. This isn't a death sentence. "
Connor starred at his ceiling. "I'm going to be Kyle." He moped.
"You won't be Kyle." She assured him. "Have you given any thought to the other thing he mentioned?"
"Which part?" Connor asked.
"Boy or girl?" She reminded him. "I mean neither you are girls so it might be more awkward than it was for me, but have you consider switching to the other side?"
"I would like to pretend I can get back with you at some point, even when I'm part Kyle. Wouldn't being a girl cost me that possibility?" Connor thought about what he had just said. "Sorry. That probably sounded weird.
"You've had a long day so I'm going to let it slide. Just checking, you do remember that one of my past lives was a boy." Connor was quiet, not sure where she was going with this. "A straight boy." Still nothing. "I'm bi." She finally confirmed.
"OH. Oooh." Connor finally understood. He considered it. "I never thought about being a girl before."
"Well I've been googling it, and it seems that guys who do this find it helps create distance from their past selves and create a new identity. If you are so concerned about being Kyle, maybe being a girl is the distance you need from him." She paused. "And I'm kind of curious about if girl ypu is a good kisser."
●●●
Connor and Kyle entered different chambers, but exited from the same one. The experience was disorienting. They were two different people, two different lives, but now they were one.
Taking an X chromosome from each boy had merged them in the body of a new girl. Now, she could see both of their lives with a new clarity. Kyle was an arrogant jerk who had caused many of his problems at school by antagonize. He'd seen shows of arrogant geniuses getting away with being jerks because they were special, and decided to emulate them rather than try and make friends. Connor was social and well like, but he was a bit stupid. Thinking how Sanya had to spell out she was bi last night made her cringe. He wasn't exactly kind himself. She remembered how he enjoyed bullying Kyle.
She didn't care to be either of them. She was glad they had chosen to be a girl. She could have a new start. She was Kennedy now. K for Kyle, double N like Connor. Kennedy stumbled in her medical gown, and was helped by her mom into a chair. Her dad was there too. Kennedy smiled. They were both her parents, and she was glad they had decided to make this happen. She couldn't wait to discover herself, and explore her femininity with Sanya. It was a new beginning.