Many of you know the lady in question, keep her privacy for me, only those who she tells should know....
It was half a lifetime ago that I met someone who would change my life in ways I didn't think possible at the time. I was 21 then, and closer to a raging feral than the paragon of self control that you all know now (Ha...), but as I visited a games store for the first time, I saw a young lady at the counter wearing ripped jeans. In the manner of all young men, remarked on the jeans in question, realising soon after that I had in fact just drawn attention to the fact that I'd been staring at her ass...
And indeed felt like an ass myself...
However, of such inauspicious beginnings are formed lifelong friendships, and as it transpired, the young lady quite took a shine to me. In the manner of young shy people, it took several people making major hints towards us that we liked each other before we finally got together, and several more weeks before we ended up sat around a table talking about the future and our hopes. At this point she suddenly turned quiet and leaned back in her chair, saying that she needed to tell me something about her past, hoping that it wouldn't change things between us that much. I nodded and motioned for her to continue, and she waited another minute before leaning forwards and putting her hands open on the table.
"I wasn't born a woman..."
I leaned forwards and took her hands with a smile, saying "And...?", she looked at me for a second in wonder and I could see tears in her eyes as she realised that I saw people as they are, not as how the world see's them. It turns out that in the world, there aren't very many like that, and I was the first one who hadn't reacted badly. When I spoke to people the next day, it turns out that all of them knew, and they'd presumed that I might turn violent when I found out (really, I was closer to a raging feral at the time), but here's the thing.
They'd let me go anyway, knowing that....
And although it's more a reflection on them, being willing to do that and watch the fallout than trying to stop it somehow, but it taught me that the world is a dark and vicious place and that it's not enough to stand by, we have to do the right thing while we can. I learned something that night, that you love people as they are, not as you would want them to be. The lady and I stayed together for a good few months before parting ways amicably and remaining friends thereafter, and the resolve in me to be a better man was made ever stronger by the strength she gave me.
Why am I saying this now?
Because two months ago, the lady finished her journey and now lives physically as the person she always was mentally, not a problem in the world, surgery went perfectly and she'd doing brilliantly. I cannot easily articulate the depth of my emotion on this matter, for I have feared for her greatly in the times that I've known her, and we've both been on the dark side of the world for many of the years inbetween, but those times are done, and just as my brighter tomorrows came seven years ago when Jude said I do, so the happy future I hoped for the lady half a lifetime ago is finally here.
This is more a call to all those still on the journey, don't lose hope, don't lose faith. It may take half a lifetime to walk that path, but there'll come a day when it all comes together, and until that day, take the support of those of us who care, we will never know what you're going through, but we love you.
Just for being you...
