But I worried constantly about being enough as his partner — which really meant enough as his Asian partner. I had wrapped my own worth in the scorn others had for my skin, and I was letting it suffocate me. I practiced seeing my skin as worthy, visible and perfect. After my year of shunning latex, I now shine in it nearly every day once again, but only for me — not as a substitute skin but as a gleaming continuation of my skin, something I am able to celebrate and love. I no longer want to encase myself in a second skin of rubber to shroud my original skin.

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Persons: “ I’ve, ”, “