Kira's pronouncement shook both Jen and Carol to the core.
"F-fur?? I-I have fur!?!"
Kira nodded. "Two coats of hair, a soft downy layer and a coarse upper layer...possibly a third layer to come. Your skn itself is changing too, even if the hair were to somehow come off, you'd still look very different."
"Doctor," asked Carol, "is it the hormone, are all the girls going to be affected like this eventually?"
Again the dermatologist nodded. "The stress about her mother is what stimulated this for Jennifer, but eventually, yes. The hormone will bring this around for anyone. The question to be asked is what is happening to their genetic structure. There have been severe cases of hypertrichosis before...but no human being has ever developed a fur coat."
"I'M NOT HUMAN ANYMORE!?"
Kira took her by the hand. "I don't think that's in question, but humans have changed before, honey."
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The two drove home together almost silently, with Jennifer sobbing softly. Never before in her life had she been so frightened. She tried to convince herself that fear was nonsensical, it wasn't as if she had become a pariah over the past weeks, but try as she might she couldn't shake the dreadful sensation of foreboding.
"Jennifer," said Carol softly
"Y-yeah," Jen responded, her voice quavering.
"I need to ask you for a very big favor, if you don't mind?"
"Uhm...yeah. Go ahead."
"Jen, until we know for sure what is going on, I must ask you not to mention this to Lisa. I think she's right on the verge, sweetheart, if she finds out...it might just push her over. Just tell her your hair got thicker for now. Can you do that for me, hon?"