MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada:
Daisy and Jessie look at the two teenage transgender girls they rescued from a human trafficker. When the band noticed the girls, they saw that they had been doped up and dressed inappropriately for their age. Daisy got pissed and got right into the trafficker's face and pulled the switchblade she always carries for personal protection.

***Sexual Scenes Between Lovers***

It was nine in the evening on December 31 and I was standing on a bridge looking down, far down, on the river where large chunks of ice floated. I was not going to jump. Not then. Actually, I was there to give me strength to go on. I was there to remind myself that there was an alternative to crime or prostitution even if things didn’t get better. Death before dishonor.

Cover art by Erin Halfelven
©2026, SammyC

“Hurry up, I’m ready to go.”

Why did I need to pee again? After all, I had nothing to be nervous about; I was just going to divulge a secret to my mother that could mean the end of all the things that I most enjoyed about last year: Cheerleading practice, Cailíní Canadh Ghleann Dhubh, dressing, being one of the girls. What could possibly go wrong?

The Volvo pulled out of the driveway; I waited until we were well on our way so my mother wouldn’t be tempted to turn back. Past Ballymore, now on the Ballyhowan Road.

“Mom, I have something to tell you.”

Noise; lots of it. I’m cold: I must have shivered as someone wrapped a warm blanket around me. Drift away again…

Noise again, light… My mother’s voice:

“I think he’s coming around.”

“Let’s have a look.”

Male, foreign, heavily accented.

“Ah; you back to us, yes?”

“Grunt”

“Whatyouname?”

“Huh?”

“He’s asking you for your name.”

Mother’s voice again.

“Name… Aisling…”

“It’s his stage name…”

Opening eyes, lights on ceiling, a man standing over me, white coat, stethoscope.

“You gonna be much longer in there?” my flatmate asks as I apply the finishing touches to my make-up and give my ever-growing hair one final brush.

“Just a sec,” I reply. “Just got one last thing to do….” I smile as I reach into my medicine drawer and retrieve the two packets of pills that over the last two weeks have become beyond precious to me. The fact that one packet is labelled ‘progesterone’ and the other ‘oestrogen’ should be all you need to know why.

Ambush, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina:
Daisy dances around on stage while Jessie plays the drums. The band decided to try something new tonight by letting Daisy be the frontwoman, since they were playing at one of the local gay clubs near the beach.