It's heritage, not hate... *grasps pearls*

This isn't revenge I did on purpose. My story is just something I realized was true recently and... well the natural progression of things was KFC (finger licking good in my opinion). Thought y'all deserved a taste too.

From the late 2000's to early 2010's, I (a young female at the time) had a boyfriend (also a fellow young person) that I thought was going to be my husband. Part of the reason was that I was a walking cliche naively in limerence, not love. The other part was that I lived in a small farm town and didn't know what to expect with a life outside of the hay lined walls before me. He was tall. Dusty blonde hair cut short. Piercing blue eyes. A man in uniform, who got his hands dirty. If I was going to be with anyone... I couldn't complain with the option I had. Wowza, right?

Wrong. Oh so very wrong. If only then, someone had taken me by the collar... shaken some sense in me... and opened my eyes... could I have avoided any of this.

The first warning sign should have been the **flags**. They were stickered on every truck bed. The type of people who would support the current administration. Claimed to be good, god fearin', well meanin', hard working Muricans.

Hypocrisy ran swift through their veins but my exes mother seemed to be the most afflicted.

*SUPER DUPER mega momma's boy enters the chat*

Melissa (fake name) was born of the generation that chose to nurse Virginia slims (or some other light form of cancer stick) and boxes of wine. Therapy? Blasphemous.

My exes dad drove truck and showed horses. So, he would be on the road on occasion. As soon as he was not available, my ex became the next in line. She NEEDED a replacement. He had to take her shopping. He had to carry all the bags. He had to lift things and clean things because she needed them done a certain way but didn't want to get dirty herself.

One day, she didn't get what she wanted from him so she took his door off the hinges. Mind you, he was technically a grown ass man. We were young when we reconnected... but fully adults. Yes, he still lived at home. So did I at the time. Didn't cross my mind that he might not have the option.

The **FINAL STRAW** came the night I found out my grand father died. I had agreed to housesit for some friends prior and couldn't retract my offer. It was a new apartment (they had just moved and I hadn't been to their new place yet) and my first time pet sitting for them and so I wanted company for a bit because... well why wouldn't I given the circumstances? I called my ex and told him about what happened and asked if he could spend the night. Where I was, was a 4 to 5 min drive from his house. He was all ready for it and to provide support.

He was with me for about 30 mins before his phone started blowing up. Then, when he picked up, screeching. Sobbing. He needed to come home right now. How could he do this to her? Her husband was gone and she couldn't be alone. They argued back and fourth and he ultimately abandoned me and headed back home. She didn't care about my abrupt circumstances. She said some awful things about how I was selfish. There was no winning.

Fast forward to now, and I am a trans man who is out and proud. Took me a bit to get here but I have known since I could have memories that I was... different. Been on hormones since 2020. Yeeted the chesticles in November 2022. Got scooped and gutted like a pumpkin last year. I have a full beard. I have a hairy everything. My voice is deep.

I have my associates, my bachelors AND my masters. While I am not where I want to be in life, I am where I need to be. I am okay... and living as my most authentic self.

My most authentic self who was knuckles deep in Melissa's son at one point. Holding him like a bowling ball. Psst... Melissa... your son's a little gay. And yes it counts. **BLESS YOUR HEART**

(she would gag a little if given this information and I would pay to see it)