I started working on this piece during the final few weeks working at a job where transphobic and racist behavior was normalized. I had been verbally berated and smothered, and had artwork that I made torn down and thrown away. Working on this piece during those weeks along with my partner's reassurance and love gave me a sense of calm. As I have moved forward in life, it meant letting go of people close to me who I thought would be by my side and I by theirs until we were old, in favor of me finally feeling free to be myself instead of holding onto some self image that I felt I was clinging onto in an unhealthy way. things feel shaky and uncertain, but I know that both me and my partner have the strength to continue going <3