Last weekend I met Sarah. She was recommended by another sex worker in a trans-friendly network. Those networks are lifelines, honestly. Not just for safety but for understanding.
I always have to have the conversation before meeting. Always. Who am I? What parts of my body feel good? What parts don't? I'm pre-op, which means different things for different people. Some escorts get it immediately. Some don't.
Sarah was kind. Not performative kindness. Real acknowledgement. When I explained my body dysphoria and what I wanted from our time together, she listened without that performative sympathy that makes me want to crawl out of my skin. She just... understood.
We talked about desire. About who gets to feel sexy. Who gets to be wanted. Trans bodies are so often treated like problems to be solved or curiosities to be examined. But sometimes. Sometimes someone looks at you and sees you. Sees all of you.
The sex was good. But the seeing was better.