I knew I was a girl because I had long eyelashes. I was certain that if I cut them, I would become a boy. My father wanted a boy, I knew it by the way he gifted me plastic soldiers or a plastic car wash for little colourful cars. I wanted to cut my eyelashes.

I knew I was a girl because I was not allowed to climb trees. I was certain that if I climbed them, I would be a better girl. My mother always wanted a girl, I knew it by the way she put my hair into pigtails with colourful hair ties. I wanted to have pigtails.

I knew I was a girl because I got my first white bra. I was certain, that if I wore it, I would be a more grown-up girl. Everyone wanted me to be grown up, I knew it by the way they told me how grown-up girls behave. I wanted to behave.

I knew I was a girl because I fell in love. I was certain, that if I was in love, I would be more of a real girl. The boy wanted me to be his real girl, I knew it by the way he ironed his shirts. I wanted to see his ironed shirts.

I knew I was a girl because my heart got broken. I was certain, that if I cried, I would be a more normal girl. My friends wanted me to be normal, I knew it by the way the expected me to smile. I wanted to smile.

I knew I was a girl because I hated the way I looked in the mirror. I was certain, that if I was slimmer, I would be a more popular girl. My aunts wanted me to be more popular, I knew it by the way they talked about my cousin. I wanted to be my cousin.

I knew I was a girl because I got groped in a club. I was certain, that if I did not have a skirt on, I would be a more inaccessible. My boyfriend wanted me to be inaccessible, I knew it by the way he looked at me when I danced. I wanted to leave the dance floor.

I knew I was a girl, because I shaved my hair. I was certain, that if I did not have my hair, I will be more of a strong woman. I wanted to be a strong woman, I knew it by the way I looked in the mirror. If, even without my beauty, I was still confident, nothing could break me. I wanted to be strong.

And I knew I was a girl, because afterwards, I became a woman.