Daniella Deutsch

When I was 2 I ate dirt and slept on my dogs belly preferring pillows of fur over the ones in my barney themed room.

When I was 4 I wore pink glitter scrunchies, shunned everyone who wasn't wearing barbie panties and spent the hot summers eating plums pretending they were food for fairies and not chubby, little, ginger girls.

When I was 6 I refused to colour in ( HOW DARE THEE STIFLE MY CREATIVITY) and sat under the willow tree and spoke of fairies.

When I was 8 I lost my teeth and got teased about my ginger halo and the fact that I knew the tooth fairy gave me my bracelet.

When I was 10 I painted my garage with rolling hills and flowers and told my gran that “real” women didn’t need to know how to make meringues.

When I was 12 I punched someone who called my brother retarded and screamed because I could no longer hold his hand.

When I was 14 I finally embraced the fact that I look like my mom and every time I missed her I looked in the mirror.

When I was 16 I was repulsed by my reflection and dyed my hair blonde to be like no one I’d lost.

When I was 18 I read more books and loved more freely.

When I was 19 I left everything and tried to start again.