The next day Dan was very wary around Mandy. She of course sensed this and asked him out to lunch. At first, he refused, but then thought it was unfair. It was his problem, not hers.

Sitting in the café the conversation was muted. Dan was wary of her. She seemed to be able to look into him. He suspected that she knew he wanted what she had.

“Dan, I think I understand what’s going on. You dress or have dressed as a woman before, haven’t you?”

Dan could feel his face flush red. He could barely look at her.

“Look Dan. I have been where you are. I won’t judge you for how you feel. How could I? Your secret is safe with me. Just know I understand, you have a friend and an ally. You’re a nice guy, but I can see that you’re sad inside.”

She put her hand over his when she said this. Dan froze. His innermost “dirty” secret was out to a woman he barely got knew. He felt a mixture of fear and relief. It was so confusing.

He just looked at her, not knowing what to say.

“Dan please come to my flat after work. Tell your wife you have to work late. I’ll explain. I know I can help you. Please trust me.”

Dan's heart felt like it was going to explode in his chest. Did she want him? Was she going to threaten him? No that was so stupid. He knew she was a nice person. He just felt so vulnerable with her knowing his secrets. She could ruin his life.

“OK, but I can’t be long. Two hours at most.”

“Please Dan. Don’t worry. I know I can help.”

After work he gave her a lift home. Mandy lived in a private tower block on the other side of town. Dan worked out it would take around thirty minutes to get home. When they arrived at her flat Mandy sat him on the sofa and asked him if he wanted coffee. She put the perculator on and the busied herself while he watched the news on tv.

“The coffee will be ready in a few minutes. Please come with me, I want to show you something.”

She led him to her bedroom. Dan started to pull away. She was attractive, but he was faithful to his wife.

“Dan we’re not here for that look what's on the bed.”

On the bed there was a black summer dress covered with red roses, a pair of silky black knickers and a pair of dark tights.

“What’s that for?”

“For you silly. I know from what you told me about your family life you have very little chance to dress at home. It must be so difficult for you. These should fit you. No pressure, if you don’t want to. I’ll leave you here and finish the coffee. See you when you decide.”

His heart was thumping. He had not been able to dress for years. Now there was a chance to do it in front of someone. This had never happened before. What if she took a picture of him to blackmail him?

Mandy waited in the living room. There were two steaming mugs of coffee on the table in front of her. Dan appeared in the doorway looking like a deer caught in headlights. The dress fitted him well. he had even put the tights on.

“That’s better. How do you feel?”

Dan’s heart was thumping. His throat was dry.

“Er. Ok I guess.”

“Come on sit down and really tell me about yourself.”

Dan slowly opened up. He told her about how he always felt he should have been a woman. How he knew he never could be, but the feeling never went away. He told her how he had put his wife’s knickers on in the bedroom once. She had got very upset, so he said it was all a joke. He felt so bad for upsetting her.

“This is the first time I have worn a dress since I was eighteen. It feels, so right, but I feel guilty. I’m a man. I have to be a man for my family.”

Tears were streaming down his face as he said that. Her heart went out to him. She had felt all these feelings. She crossed over to his chair, went to her knees and hugged him.

“There, there. Its Ok to cry. You’re going to be fine.”

He buried his head in her shoulder and sobbed loudly. He was wailing like a baby. She held him tight.

“It’s OK. You’re doing fine.”

After five minutes he was cried out.

“Come on drink some coffee.”

He gulped his coffee and coughed.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know where that came from. What must you think?”

“I think you are a nice person that needs an understanding friend.”

“Men don’t cry. I made myself look stupid.”

“Men do cry silly. Humans cry. You have just been taught that men don’t cry. I actually think it was the girl inside crying though. You have denied her for years.”

Dan knew she was telling the truth. He had longed to be a woman. He thought about it all the time.

He explained all this to Mandy.

What could he do? He had a wife and two children to support. He couldn’t let them down. Their lives would be ruined if he popped up and said, Hey, guess what? I am a woman now. From today you can call me Danielle.

He knew he would lose his wife, kids and job. It wasn’t an option. He felt trapped. It was no one’s fault but his own. He remembered his mother telling him he would never be a woman.

“Dan it isn’t your fault. Its just the way we are made. It took me years to accept that. I know what you’re going through.”

“I suppose you’re going to tell me to be true to myself. Tell everyone I’m going to live as a woman? Well, I bloody well won’t So you can forget that. I have too much to lose!”

He spat out the last few words.

“Hey, friend here remember. No, I won’t tell you that. We all have to find our own way. What is right for me may not be for you. Now honestly tell me how you feel wearing those clothes.”

“I er, I feel normal. It feels like I should be like this all the time. I feel calm. It would feel better with a wig and a bit of makeup, but I haven’t done that since I left my parents.”

“You have spent half your life fighting what’s inside. It won’t go away. It’s part of you. It’s what makes you Dan. The nice guy that all the guys and girls in the office like.”

“So, what do I do?”

“That’s for you to decide. I would suggest you don’t supress Danielle. Let her out every now and again. I promise you’ll feel better for it.”

Dan sipped his coffee. So much had just happened. He was sitting there in a dress and women’s underwear, and he felt better than he had for years. Confession really was good for the soul.

“Would you let me come here sometimes and dress? I know it’s asking a lot.”

“If that’s what you feel would help. You do what makes you feel better. What ever makes being you easier. There was a line in an old Cat Stevens song. But it's them they know, not me. It’s very true. Well meaning people will give you advice, but we aren't all the same. You need to find your own level. Some compromise that makes your life as good as it can get. Life is all about compromise. Very little is absolute.”

Dan was silent. His head hung low. She saw tears dripping down onto the dress. She put her arms around him and drew him to her.

“What’s the matter. You’re going to be fine. Shush now.”

“It’s not that. Why couldn’t I have met you years ago? It has been so good talking to you. You seem to see right into my soul. I want to thank you for what you are doing for me.”

“If you had met me years ago. I would have been a mess. We learn as we go along. I have just passed what I learned along the way. Some need to go the whole way, some through necessity can’t. It doesn’t make you less of a person, or even a woman. It’s not a competition.”

Dan glanced at the clock. He had to go. He reluctantly put his suit back on. At the front door he gave Mandy a heartfelt hug.

“You are one wonderful woman Mandy. Thank you for tonight.”

As he drove home, he felt lighter than he had ever felt in his life. He couldn’t help smiling. He knew he wasn’t the only one. There was now an outlet for his feminine side. Just telling someone about himself was like lifting a huge weight off his shoulders. Now all he had to do was find his own level.