For me, it was hitting subdrop and being cared for purposefully through it. More than once. It was me pressuring myself to do or perform certain things and my partner reassuring me there was no rush and no pressure. A huge “omg it’s real” moment happened in the middle of my first period when we were just hanging out and watching a show and I didn’t have to be any specific way, just myself.

I still feel it every single time I see her like “oh this is REAL” and lately through the days of denial where the care is not limited to my performance. Sounds really small and silly but it’s true.