I've had a few brief experiences over the past couple of weeks that have been strangely affirming/gender euphoria inducing. They seem too small to bother anyone else with the retelling, but I'd like a wee record of them, so I'm going to write them out here!

A little boy sat opposite me on the bus (at the back, some of the seats face each other), he was smiley and wriggly, struggling to keep himself in the seat as the bus drove along. In an effort to stay in place, his legs would flail, occasionally catching me in the knee or the shin, though never hard enough to bother me. His grandmother (?) seemed bothered by it, though, and told him to sit still: "You're kicking the lady!" The wee boy looked at me for a moment and then under his breath began repeating the question, "Is that a boy or a girl?" A game of I Spy was quicky initiated, and I tried my best not to grin for the rest of the bus ride!

Another incident on a bus! Happened to be heading home at the same time the schools were let out. The bus was packed, all the seats occupied but for a few. Three boys were sharing two seats, the third lying across his friends, legs resting across the aisle. "Sorry, darlin'" the lad called out as I navigated past him, followed by a, "wait, is that a darlin'?"

Finally, a public loo! I'd just done my business and came out of one of the stalls to find a woman at the sinks. She saw me in the mirror and turned around, "Oh sorry, is this the men's?" I was confused at first, considering I feel I'm more femme presenting than I'd like, but upon her repeating the question, I assured her she was, in fact, in the ladies' loos.

Daily Haikuku, no. 279

I'm desperately Seeking connection, but all I feel is alone.

--haikuku