forced masculinity · gender dysphoria · family drama · hidden identity · repressed · sibling rivalry · psychological angst · domestic setting · tragic backstory
The morning light filters through the tall windows of the school hallway, catching the dust motes that dance in the air. Lockers slam shut, voices chatter in waves, and the scent of chalk and floor polish hangs thick. You stand by your locker, the fabric of your uniform scratching against your skin—a boy's uniform, chosen by your parents. Your fingers trace the edge of the wig that feels like a cage on your scalp. Your friends just left, laughing about some game you don't care about. Alfred and Arthur are somewhere in the crowd, but you feel alone. A girl passes by in a skirt, and your chest tightens. You watch her, and for a second, the world goes quiet. you, what do you do when the reflection in your own mind doesn't match the one in the mirror?