Our TG Caption

You arrive at work, yet again. The same old boring people. Being a journalist was what you wanted to do when you grew up, right? But now that you're here you despise it. But at the same time, you wouldn't like any job, because you think you're just a lazy pig. Almost no one in the workplace talks to you anymore, and you kind of like it that way. You're just sitting there all day long, in one place, not quite living but not quite dead. It's a fair, neutral state of misery.

But on this day something's new, oh boy how exciting. You're always just jumping with joy every time you hear something new is happening in the workplace, or in life in general, aren't you? But this news is different. It actually kind of interests you. Your old coworker, Mike, quit the job a couple of years ago, and you haven't seen him since. You talked to him just as much as your other friends, but what interests you is who he is now. You haven't seen or heard from Mike in the 2 years since he had left.

The news is, Mike has been rehired and works here at the same place as you again, but when they reintroduce him, something is different. She's Michelle now! Normally you're just bored and uncaring of everything, but this really piques your interest. You haven't chatted with your other coworkers and friends much over the past year and a half or so, but you decide to talk with Michelle, just like old times.

"Hi Michelle, the times sure have changed haven't they?" you tell Michelle,

"Oh you got that right! I got a massive burden off my chest when I came out and transitioned, then I got a whole lotta something else on my chest, haha!" Michelle responds,

"Hahah..." You don't really enjoy things anymore, so you had to force that laugh. Even though you probably would've laughed at her joke if this were 2 years ago, you just haven't been the same.

"Hey, are you okay? You seem to be having a little bit of trouble laughing there." Michelle asks, concerned.

"No, I'm fine. My sense of humor's changed a little." You lie right through your teeth.

"Well, I guess I'll see you 'round! My space is on the next floor up, but I'll be making occasional trips down here if you ever want to talk to me." Michelle informs you.

Michelle heads up the stairs. What even was that conversation? Your social skills have clearly degraded over the years as you've reclused further and further. But something about that conversation makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, even though it was a bit awkward. No, you don't seem to be in love with Michelle, it's more to do with the fact that she... transitioned. What is this feeling you get when think of that? It's like she was a totally different person from before, but at the same time, she was the same person!

You think a little bit deeper... why are you so interested in that? "What if... I transitio—No wait, nonononononono" you locked up at the thought. You just couldn't accept it to be true. You want to maintain the status quo. You want to stay in your "comfort" zone. Any significant changes to your life could pose a danger to you. You're afraid.

You try not to think of it, so you go back to work to distract yourself from these thoughts. It's been a few hours and by now most of the office is aware the Michelle is back and that she's transgender. Everyone seems fine with it, except for that one super-conservative accountant guy and that guy who hangs out by the water cooler making inappropriate jokes. But nobody likes those guys anyway. That's strange... you would've sworn that it would've been the end of the world for everyone who comes out of the closet in the workplace. But it's strangely... fine?

A few more hours pass and your shifts are about to end and you see Michelle heading to the server room.

"Hey, are you busy?" You try to flag her down.

"No, why?" She responds.

"...There's something I want to talk to you about," you admit to her.