A co-worker asked if I had a boyfriend. I said no. She also asked if this was my only job. I said yes but I also write.
She’s a good kid. Left work early because she needed to study for a math test. A few weeks ago during a training meeting I said I had a migraine to get out of roll-playing, I did have a migraine, and she leaned over and asked if I was ok. She always says hello when we meet in the break room.
I wish I had said, “No boyfriend and no girlfriend either,” and “My main story is about a trans woman fighting zombies.” But I didn’t. I held back. I was scared to reveal too much. I’m trying to not hide parts of myself anymore but it’s hard.
A week ago while we were clearing off a hanger rack, she asked how old I am. I almost always ask the asker to guess. It’s an easy ego boost for me since they usually say in the twenties. When she asked I just said I was 35. I felt good to just own my age like that. I hope I can own more parts of myself as fully.
After I told her, she said she thought I was in my twenties, so I still got my little ego boost.