Dawn. The old, crumbling chapel stood empty save for a tall nun quietly tidying the hall.

Faith wasn’t universal in this age, yet the priest still rose early. Across from the confessional booth, a girl had arrived even earlier. He had to admit—even to himself—she was heaven’s favorite. Faint makeup couldn’t hide the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes. She’d stood there, hollow-eyed, at the church doors since daybreak.

"Father, I have sinned."

Her voice chimed like jade pendants—clear and bright, clashing with her icy demeanor.

"All mortals sin, child."

"But… my sin is unforgivable."

The priest shook his head gently. "Nothing is unforgivable before the Lord. It depends on whether your heart still wavers."

A soft, self-mocking laugh escaped her. "You might change your mind after hearing my sins."

The priest smiled. "Child, to many, life is an opera that ends before they grasp its meaning. Comedy or tragedy—it doesn’t matter. Until the final curtain, we all must play our parts well. What matters is walking forward with unwavering faith. I’ve been a flawed servant of God for many years. I’ve seen more scripts than you can imagine—loves and hates, partings and deaths too sacred to share."

After a pause, she said, "Your Chinese is excellent. I wouldn’t have guessed."

Though separated by a thin curtain, the priest sensed her smile deepening. He heard the clash within her—pride and shame wrestling in every word. "Thank you, child. If you’re willing, I’d hear your story."

Silence hung briefly before she began softly: "I fell in love with a devil. She bewitched my mind, stained my soul… then just walked away without a care. And I… I’m beyond saving."

*Ah, love. Again.* Cliché, yet ever potent.

The old priest couldn’t tell from her voice whether she meant "he" or "she." In this world, people were men or women. Same-sex love was rare enough that even he assumed—a boy who’d abandoned her.

Patience colored his tone. "This is good. Recognizing it means you’ve awakened. Anyone can fall. There’s no shame in that. It’s not too late. The Lord’s arms remain open to you."

"Too late. I *know*… and I reveled in it. That’s what shames me."

*Reveled…* What between man and woman could make one lose themselves so utterly? The answer was obvious. The priest paused, suddenly feeling like he was counseling a fallen girl.

This holy place wasn’t a midnight heart-to-heart show.

Professionally compelled, he murmured, "I’m… not skilled in such matters. Perhaps a confession support group could offer spiritual relief… Wait—you said you’re beyond saving?"

"Yes."

"Look, I’m no old-fashioned stick-in-the-mud, but intimacy… it requires maturity from both sides. If you’ve already… I urge you to talk to your family. Life isn’t a game!"

Her voice stayed flat. "Father, I don’t understand. *She* was a girl."

"Oh. My apologies…" He wiped sweat from his brow. *Two girls can’t make a child. Just a poor soul drowning in guilt over her feelings.*

She drifted into a whisper, dreamlike: "I loved her from the first glance. So brilliant. So beautiful. A goddess untouched by mortal dust—sacred, untouchable. Not someone like me… Yet I rushed to confess anyway. I’d imagined ten thousand ways she’d refuse me. Even planned the angle of my retreating shadow when I left."

*Of course she came here. The answer was clear.* The priest listened quietly.

"But… she said yes. In that instant, I felt like the happiest person alive. I thought it’d be the most unforgettable day of my life. And it was. The day my nightmare began… because she set a condition."

*Love.* A word that turned the wisest minds beastly.

The priest couldn’t help asking: "What condition?"

No direct reply came—only a murmur: "I agreed. Of course I agreed. Like a knight swearing fealty to his goddess, I didn’t hesitate. Didn’t consider the cost. After that, I grew my hair long. Wore girls’ clothes. Held her hand as we walked through streets packed with people. Those were my happiest days."

"Girls’ clothes… I—I don’t follow…" The priest’s throat tightened. Something strange lodged there.

A silvery laugh rang from the confessional—but to the priest, it sounded chilling.

"Haven’t you realized yet?" Her voice dropped, clear and quiet. "I’m a boy."