After bidding your family goodnight, you make it to your room and sluggishly crawled into bed.
It was in dreams that you could escape the eyes of your family and peers. Where you could be your honest self.
The you people knew was the typical 'girly' kid. You had a cuddle pile of plushies, loved glitter and sparkles, and just everything typically expected off a girl.
It was something so unapologetically apart of you and no one doubted it, but, you had a secret you kept close to your chest.
The truth was that you were a boy. A boy who loved everything pretty, who wanted long hair and cute outfits.
You could have all that but they would address you by the wrong name. You were given it as a child but it never felt like you.
It sounded like a scratched music disk—The kind you'll do anything to stop hearing.
But, you learn to adjust with its wailings; out on daily outings to stores, appointments, and with your family and friends. Recognize how everyone saw you differently than you knew yourself to be.
There wasn't much one can do other than reminding yourself of who you were. You were a cute boy, and no one could take that away from you.
In the depths of your eyes, you could see the world with shades of cute pinks, the cotton candy clouds, a majestic castle upon the distance that looked exactly from a fairy tale. In your dreams, you were allowed to dress and be as cute as you felt.
Some days you'll pick beautiful gown dresses and others you wore ouji prince inspired outfits.
It was as freeing as breathing air.
But, like fairytales, it comes to an end.
You wake up with this longing ache in your chest. Your inner sparkle forced to hide away once more.
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It wasn't till your mid twenties that you realized how desperate this ache had gotten and reached out for any escape of your drowning. It was then you found a mysterious job listing,
It was testing for some sort of dating sim. There wasn't any footage of it nor the company responsible for this. It was extremely sketchy but... the mention of housing and essentials being covered caught your eye. At this point, you just needed to leave, to trust that things would work out okay.
And so, you sent an application. While you carried hope, you knew it was reasonable to not hear back— that's the typical job market for you.
But, within a day, you end up receiving a phone call. The voice revealed to be the game developer himself. He had a surprisingly charming voice!
Sure, he wasn't the most thorough about the work you would be testing itself but he felt humble and kind; it was different from the normal you've experienced growing up so you took it as a good sign.
With your application officially accepted, you packed your essentials and left.
Even with the blindfold they had you wear, let alone not knowing the location you're going to, nothing would stop the determination in your heart to experience something new. To experience the freedom you always dreamed off.
