The day I was born I was wrapped in a light pink prison
My mother kept me smothered in this shade as I grew up
A life of pigtails and dresses
Of baby dolls and princesses
But I knew it wasn't me.

As I grew up the makeup that stained my face
Burnt like acid
The dresses buried themselves under my skin
Until I wanted to peel myself out of it
Like a tormented butterfly.
The dolls' faces turned into demented demons
The princesses' turned into witches that haunted my nightmares.

The lumps on my chest that grew
Made me want to take a straight razor to them
Whenever I looked down in the shower
My tears would mix with the scalding hot water from the faucet
I wanted to throw up every time I saw my round face in the mirror.

I thought something was wrong with me
Something unnatural
Unhuman
But I'm transgender
I've learned there's nothing wrong with that
I'm human
I'm me
I'm Quinn