Angela, I looked up that story. Very good. It feels true. I am sorry for your pain.

Hmmmm. Published in 2006; I was outed in 2004 and in two weeks was living full time as the woman I had always been.

I've always known that there were other women out there who'd been forced to live impersonating men. I wasn't a banker, instead I worked in Construction as an Electrician and earned several Oscars for my portrayal of gruff, tough as nails, fearless, but good hearted mano e mano hombres. Around my late 30's the act began to break down and people would lovingly try to get me to be more friendly and gentle. I'd tell them that they had no idea whatsoever who I was, that what they saw was all an act but they had no idea what I was saying, none at all.

Aside from losing everything I ever valued, I got over it, and the last 12 years have been pretty happy.

I too remember the brutal, nearly fatal beatings at the hands of my step father. He used to say, "be a man or I will kill you". What a thing to say to a 10 year old child.

Your story did not end the way I thought it would. Still, I know that for many or most of us, life plays its self out just that way. May heaven give us peace and justice.

Thank you. Now I am going to go find "Peaches" and read it.

Gwen