I went back to my hometown to help a friend and take my mother to visit her best friend - who she hasn't seen in months.

We were getting ready to leave when we stored by a convenience store to grab a local paper before returning home.

[WARNING: My use of pronouns and my description of these events may trigger some of you. I don't know the the rules about this and I am just writing this as it occurred to me and as it makes sense to most of the people that I know. None of this is meant to be done incorrectly, although it most certainly will be. And, if I know the internet, it will certainly be perceived as rude or worse by some. Do me a favor and know that I mean well, even if I screw this up.]

I saw a familiar face behind the counter. I don't know his (he/his/him because he was obviously born, and still is, physically male) given name but I had seen him wearing make-up and with his nails painted and wearing a name tag that said "Charlotte" from time to time while we lived there. Other times, he wore no makeup or nail polish and wore no name tag.

This is a small southern town rife with hypocrites that call themselves "Christian", so that took some real courage to do.

Other times he didn't have on make-up or nail polish or a name tag. But he was always professional and kind.

I used to go there almost every morning to get my mom a chicken biscuit and I went out of my way to be kind to him because I could see the stress on his face, day after day (

Today, when I went in for the papers, I decided to get a Coke and saw one with "Charlotte" on it. I got it and one for me.

When I checked out, he was not wearing his makeup or nail polish. He was not wearing his Charlotte name tag. But he was looking a bit stressed.

After he ring up my papers and Cokes, I handed him the one that said Charlotten and, for the first time, I saw a face without stress. It was if it just melted away.

He smiled and said thank you. I smiled and left.

It was just a Coke. But I saw a Coke melt away fear today - if only for a moment.

If you see this, hang in there Charlotte. It's going to be ok.

Kiddo has been dealing with mental health struggles and thoughts of self-harm recently.

After the initial shock wore off, I'm just so happy that they feel comfortable enough to reach out to me. When I was that age 35 years ago, I just knew it wasn't a thing I could talk to my parents about.

Sitting here smiling as I try to get back to a normal resting heart rate.

My bedroom is a mess and a fire hazard so I’ve decided to redo my entire bedroom. I’m getting a bigger bed and moving everything to different spots it’ll be long and tiring but I believe it’s a necessity in my journey to adulthood.

It ends with love.

Following a cute void leads to many more kittens 🐈‍⬛💙🩵💜✨

Source in comments

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/34284216/grammy-winner-admits-flop-era-unnoticed-nyc/

Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, is a 25-year-old rapper and singer.

He rose to prominence with the release of his 2018 country rap single Old Town Road.

The hit was the longest-running number-one song since the U.S. Billboard Hot 100's 1958 inception.

In 2020, Lil Nas X won two Grammy Awards: one for Best Music Video and one for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, both for the aforementioned song with Billy Ray Cyrus.

But since finding fame and having a string of hits, Lil Nas X's recent singles have not been doing well.

Taking to TikTok to share a video of himself walking around Union Square, which is one of the busiest places in New York, Lil Nas X went unnoticed.

The rapper could be seen rocking a blue hoodie and a had with ears.

Filming himself as he walked around, the musician was beaming and seemingly very content.

"How it feels to be in my flop era and finally be able to exist as a human being again," he penned alongside the video.