People always tell me I'm brave, but honestly I feel like the closet was far more terrifying - as was the mental image of being a man forever, and worse getting more and more masculine and further away from who I am inside with each passing year.

I'm glad I caught it in time and managed to kick my denial before it was too late, though I still mourn the years I lost to denial. That whole subject (the intense regret many trans people including myself feel) might make good material for a post, so thanks for the inspiration!