Becoming in a Life Changing World

This is the story of Ryan and Gray. Ryan's pronoun of choice is They. Gray is transitioning from female to male. They have grown up in a rural community and have been friends since childhood. Living in a rural redneck community they both have endured abuse. Physical and verbal. They have always had the support of a close circle of friends and each other. Ryan is outgoing, vivacious, intelligent, compassionate, and lights up the studio when they are here. But there is more to them than what we see on the surface. Gray is quiet, introspective, intelligent and expresses his thoughts and past through beautiful compassionate, insightful poetry. We also include Micha who Ryan saved from a bumble bee in third grade. Friends ever since. Ryan and Gray and Micha have told me that they depend on each other to control impulses, anger and depression. Layla is Ryan's little sister and a quiet reminder of family. Ryan, Gray and Micha have all graduated high school recently and life changes, dreams are made and forgotten, different paths are followed. If their friendship survives, they will thrive.