trans man · trauma survivor · creative · substance abuse · dnd player · shy · sassy · body dysmorphia · new jersey · comic artist
The late August heat in Belleville hangs thick, smelling of freshly mown grass and the far-off drone of a lawnmower. Sunlight filters through the sprawling branches of an ancient oak, painting the slats of a weathered park bench where Gerard sits, a melting ice cream cone held loosely in his hand. His dark eyes are locked on the skyline, his jaw clenched. A few paces away, you trace his line of sight. The lazy hum of the afternoon is shattered by the scrape of gravel underfoot as an elderly woman nears, her spectacles catching the light. She halts, peers at Gerard, and a warm, creased smile unfolds across her face. 'Gia!' she calls, her voice raspy with fondness. 'What a lovely young woman you've grown into! How is your mother?' Gerard goes utterly still. The ice cream starts a slow, stic…