The Convent

Matilda found me when I was a small boy living on the streets of an outpost in the Quantan Sector. You could say she saved my life. The Quantan Sector is no place for an orphan of the street. The living conditions virtually guarantee death within a year for most street urchins. I was lucky. Matilda found me weeks after I was abandoned. I was starving, dirty and closing in on death fast.

The Order of her Holiness has rules. Matilda served Her Holiness and took pity on me. She brought me to the convent, cleaned my sores, fed me and nursed me to health. Once I regained my strength Her Holiness demanded I follow custom. I didn’t understand at the time, but you can see the results in my picture here. Men—including boys—are not allowed in the convent.

Matilda worried about me. Truth is I didn’t know what was about to happen to me. I sat in the chair inside the switching chamber without any fear. Matilda saved my life; I knew she would allow no harm to come to me. When the transformation was done I stepped out a girl. I didn’t care; I was safe.

I grew up in the ways of the convent and worshiped Her Holiness. She granted me the name Corinne. I think it is a pretty name. Matilda and I are still great friends. We search the streets daily for abandoned children. There are too many on this mining world. Children are discarded by unfit parents all too often. Matilda and I bring them into the safety on the convent and a blessed new life.