Elena sat down, turning Kael toward her. She didn’t see a puzzle. She saw the most authentic person she had ever known.
That was six months ago. Now, they were in the middle of a delicate, often painful process of building a life together. Elena was cisgender, and her world had been predictable. Kael was navigating the aftermath of a transition that left her soul shining, but her physical body still a source of complex personal navigation.
"It’s better now," Kael had said, her voice soft but echoing in the crowded room. "The break is the best part."
"I love the entirety of you," Elena whispered. "Every part. Not in spite of who you are, but because of it."