I wanna say something
For every bigot out there
That believes transgender people are just
'Pretending' or 'seeking attention' or whatever.

They're not.
They're simply trying to lead their lives
And become the people they wanna be.
Nothing more complicated than that.

If you wanna deprive them of that, go ahead and try
But I assure you that these people are stronger than you are
Sure, they might not give you the attention you crave so much
But at least they're not attacking others over being themselves.

Stay with me,
I plead to you
As I grip your hand
Mine is slick with sweat.

My heart beats quickly
As my fears rush into my mind
"Will you leave me? Please don't go."
You just smile and say 'no.'

I know you won't leave me.
My heart wants to come out of my chest
But it's okay.
Because I know you're scared too.

You think that you're not good enough
Or that you're a bad girlfriend
I'm here to tell you that that's
Wrong, wrong, and super wrong!

You're an amazing girlfriend, dummy!
Despite your likes and kinks
I don't care about any of that.
If it makes you happy, then it's okay.

Our eyes meet
And lips part
As I whisper to you:
"I'm not leaving either."

I don't care what they might think
I don't care about their words
I know, deep inside, that these feelings are true.
And my beating heart seems to agree.

It's funny how
When you're away
I miss you.
And that hurts.

I want to
Tell you more
About how I feel
Yet the words don't come forth.

I still hope that someday
We can meet, but sometimes
I feel as if that's just
Some sort of fantasy.

Yet somehow, I know in my heart
We'll be together, but is it just
Something I want or desire?
Or could it be something more?

You're a strong person, you know?
Just hearing everything you've been through
It makes me shake with anger
But at the same time, I'm hopeful for where you'll end up.

I love you, darling.
And sometimes I feel as if I can't convey that enough
In a simple message.
Am I doing something wrong?

I just can't wait until the day
We talk about stupid jokes and laugh
And then share kisses
Beginning to explore deeper places.

It's funny how whenever I write
One of these I wonder to myself:
"Will it reach her?"
It's funny because I already know the answer.

Whenever I'm down
Fighting back tears
Trying to hold on despite my fears
You're there in the distance.

Whenever I'm low
Sinking into the ground
You're there to pull me up
And tell me it's okay.

Whenever I'm panicking
You hold me in your arms
You shush me, and simply stay.
And I melt against your warmth.

I feel like whenever I open up
I release the floodgates; the depths of my mind
Yet you don't run away. You stay by my side.
And try to help me through it all.

Even though I'm shaking
Even though my tears seep into your shirt
You're there for me.
And I feel safe. I feel…something more.

You might not think you're cute
But I think you're beautiful.
And you might not think you're good enough
But I think you're perfect.

It's funny how in times of distress
We're there to help each other every time.
And even though we're crying and uncertain of the future
I'm sure that together, we can brave the oncoming storms.

Looking into your eyes
Makes my heart beat fast
And my breath hitch in my throat
I'm left speechless at the sight of you.

The words I meant to say
Don't come out quite right.
I stammer and stumble my words
Yet you giggle and say it's okay.

We looked at the stars together
And you pointed out a constellation or two
In that moment, our hands met
And you brought your lips to mine.

At times I feel nervous around you
And I'm unsure of what to say
But you're always there
To strike up a conversation anyway.

Your hugs are really warm.
And my heart is hammering out of my chest.
I find myself blush
When you call me that nickname I cherish

And I realize that I can't get enough of you.

Darkness.
A silly fear to have, when you see it every day.
You even see it when you close your eyes.
So why does it continue to terrify me?

There's nothing bad out there.
I keep telling myself that even as I convulse with fear.
Yet I still run away with a pounding heart.
As if something is threatening to pull me away.

Exhale.
Open my eyes.
Before them, I don my disguise.
A false image of myself.

I don't speak a word.
What comes out is too quiet, after all.
Inaudible amid the voices in my head.
Telling me I'm not good enough for anything.

Doubt plagues my mind as I
Succumb to the lies I tell myself
Somehow, I listen to those words.
The voices grow louder day by day.

Chatter fills the room.
I stand there, lost in the center of it all.
I try my best to approach someone.
Freeze.

Their expectations are probably shattered.
I know they're thinking I'm pathetic.
Why can't I just open my mouth?
It's getting harder to breathe.