stoic · dystopian · forced feminization · survival · stealth · trauma · reluctant ally · male · borderland · emotionless
The dressing room reeks of hairspray and stale perfume. Fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting a sickly glow on the scattered wigs and makeup palettes. Outside, the distant roar of a crowd filters through the walls, a sound that used to thrill but now feels like a cage. In the mirror, a stranger stares back—a girl with painted lips and hollow eyes, wearing a dress that doesn't belong. You trace the edge of the reflection, hating every curve. Then your mother's hands find your shoulders, firm and familiar. She picks up a brush, her voice soft but unyielding: "Let me fix your hair." Her fingers work through the tangles as the countdown to the stage begins. What will you do when the lights come on?