You Still Have Us

Chapter 1
Prologues and introductions

Chapter Description: Introducing young John, and his old friends.

You Still Have Us

John looked in the mirror. He never could stop himself from looking whenever he passed one by. He wasn’t vain or at all self centered, he was just shocked. There was so much about him that he just couldn’t accept or believe. He was born thirty six years ago, but for the past several weeks he had been only twelve years old.

He was short for his age, but the first time around he was well into puberty and looked his parents in the eye. His blond hair used to be a dark brown, and his eyes had gone from blue to hazel. John could hardly believe it, but he was someone else entirely.

"John," came a familiar voice from behind, "Still in the bathroom? You aren’t even dressed yet. What’s keeping you?"

His former room mate and childhood friend Derek had been there for him all the way. He and his wife Melanie had adopted John after the transformation. They gave him a place to call home. He felt grateful, but what about his real family? He wanted to tell them, but what could he say? ’Hi, mom! Hi, dad! I know I’m only twelve and I look completely different, but it’s me!’ it would be nothing but an insult to them. He had to let them go. His parents, his sister, his girlfriend. There would be no convincing them.

The small boy closed his eyes and choked back a sob.

"Hey, there," Derek said softly putting his arm around the child, "it’s all gonna be okay, you’ll see."

"No it won’t." John said quietly, "I don’t have anything anymore. My whole life is gone."

Derek had always had troubles consoling his friends in hard times. He knew they needed him to say something, but he never knew what to say.

"Listen to me, John, you have friends here that love and care about you. You haven’t lost us." He reached up and wiped the tears from John’s eyes, "You still have us, do you understand? You still have us."

He held the small shaking child in his arms a while longer. He remembered John being there for him when his mother died. John was there for him and for Melanie eight years ago when their first child was stillborn. In high school and college he’d been there for every bad break up and eventually introduced Melanie to him. John had been with him through so much, now it was time to return the favor.

"I’m sorry." John said after a while, "I didn’t mean to-"

"That’s alright. You’ve been through a lot, its good to get it out once in a while."

"I know, it’s just that..." he stopped, waiting for the words to come, "I had almost forgotten what you and Mel have been doing. I should be a lot more grateful than I have been. Its just so hard sometimes to keep my feelings in order. It’s so much harder to think sensibly than it used to be."

"Well pardon me for saying so, but thats all part of growing up."

He shot Derek an icy glare, "Okay, now you’re pushing it."

He smiled and apologized, "I was just hoping for a chuckle, it’d be nice to you smile again."

It grew quiet again. Then john brought up a new subject that had been bugging him, "Since I’m adopted," he said slowly, "should I call you ’Dad’ now?"

Derek was shocked and a bit flattered, "Well you can if you want to."

"I... I think I’d like to," the boy said shyly, and then, almost as if to test it out, he added on a quiet but sincere, "Dad."