Love You However

By: Katherine Blakeman

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'Jean Taylor is a woman.' This is a statement that I have always tolerated about myself. Except now… it seems to be getting harder. My gender has never felt right, but I’ve been able to overlook it. I’ve always been okay with being Jean: retail worker, choir leader and wife of Petra. Our idyllic little life in Cornwall has given me the stability I’ve needed ever since my sister died, and everything’s been ticking along just fine. Up until now. A blast of menopause hormones has brought my gender to the front of my mind. When Petra is suddenly hurled into the role of ‘headteacher’ at work, it becomes harder and harder to share it with her. With work taking over her life and gender taking over mine, how can we keep our marriage alive? And can I realise my true identity before it’s too late? Content warning: mentions of self-harm, family members lost to cancer, and discussions of gender identity.