(Context: I wrote this about my internal battle with my sexuality. It’s about how I felt on my journey to accepting my self, I’m not sure if it exactly fits the prompt, but it is a self reflection of sorts.)

Blackness fills everything around me. Empty darkness is all I see. I touch the walls around me to make sure I don’t run into anything. I feel a cold hand touch my hand. I shrink back.

“Don’t be afraid . I know where you’re going. I can take you to her.” They say.

I can’t guess the gender of the person based on their voice. I don’t recognize them, but for some reason I trust them. I lift my hand out in front of me and they grab it and lead me down the hall.

They lead me towards a white light.

“Who are you?” I ask

“A friend.”

The white light eventually turns into a dungeon. Their is a cell with a version of myself in it she slowly makes her way to the cell door. I put my fingers around the bars of the door and we look at each other.

“Your here?” She asks.

“It’s time for me to free you.” I reply.

“She’s been here a long time hasn’t she?” My guide asks.

“She’s has.” I reply.

“Don’t be scared. You not alone anymore.” They respond.

“Don’t look behind you.” She says

I turn around to see a darker version of myself. She shoves me to the ground. My guide helps me get up. Their face is pixelated. Even able to see them I still can’t tell their gender. I still don’t know who they are.

“Face it, you’ll never free her.” My dark version says.

“It’s time. I know you can do this. This is your battle, I can’t guide you anymore. ” my guide says.

I take my stance. My dark version runs toward me. I grab her arm and twist it behind her back. She steps on my foot. She swings her arm at me I grab it and push her towards the ground. She stands up.

“You cannot beat me.”

“I don’t want to fight you anymore.”

She slaps me.

“I just want to be free”

“Shut up!”

She hits me in the stomach. I kneel to the ground.

“I want to be myself again.”

I get up, holding my stomach.

“Shut up!”

She hits me in the back. I sit in a pain for a quick moment. I stand back up.

“We deserve freedom.”

She starts crying. I walk over to her and hug her. Suddenly she disappears and a key falls. I grab it and walk back to the cell. I take a deep breath and insert the key into the lock. It twists and unlocks. I open the door. My younger self walks out.

“Could it be?” She asks.

“We’re free now.” I say

“Thank you.” She says, hugging me.

Like my dark version, she disappears.

I turn to my guide.

“It’s my turn.” I say.

“You should be proud. Your free now.”

“Who are you?”

“We haven’t met yet, but we will. I must go now.”

Their face becomes clearer but I still can’t tell their gender, but I’m okay with that.

“Thank you, goodbye.”

“See you soon.”

They turn around and walk to a warm white light. I close my eyes and smile.

I am free now.