Jillian Welsh

And I remember, like, at first being really into it and then remembering my situation so my mouth does that thing where it curls up a little bit. And we kind of laugh a bit, and he goes in to kiss me again, and I do that thing where I pull away again. And he was so sweet. He was like, wait, what's going on? He noticed it. He read it right away. And was like, we don't have to do this.

And I remember, like, at first being really into it and then remembering my situation so my mouth does that thing where it curls up a little bit. And we kind of laugh a bit, and he goes in to kiss me again, and I do that thing where I pull away again. And he was so sweet. He was like, wait, what's going on? He noticed it. He read it right away. And was like, we don't have to do this.

I want to be clear. Nothing is expected of you in this situation. We don't have to have sex. And I was like, I want to. I really, honestly, I want to. And I kept trying to think of how am I going to phrase this. I think of this thing that my roommate used to say. She calls it her Aunt Flo. So I look at him and I tell him that my Aunt Flo has just landed and she's very much in town.

I want to be clear. Nothing is expected of you in this situation. We don't have to have sex. And I was like, I want to. I really, honestly, I want to. And I kept trying to think of how am I going to phrase this. I think of this thing that my roommate used to say. She calls it her Aunt Flo. So I look at him and I tell him that my Aunt Flo has just landed and she's very much in town.

And he gets like a little bit confused. He asked me if my aunt has like just arrived at the airport and if I have to go see her or something. So eventually I just, I fess up and I tell him like, no, I have my period. And I'm pretty sure I whispered it. I'm pretty sure I was like, I have my period. And he smiled this like half smile and was like, so. I was like, so? What do you mean, so?

And he gets like a little bit confused. He asked me if my aunt has like just arrived at the airport and if I have to go see her or something. So eventually I just, I fess up and I tell him like, no, I have my period. And I'm pretty sure I whispered it. I'm pretty sure I was like, I have my period. And he smiled this like half smile and was like, so. I was like, so? What do you mean, so?

And he just, he didn't care.

And he just, he didn't care.

I felt like I finally understood what it was about. I remember lying there and listening to his heartbeat. Yeah, just like listening to his heartbeat. It's such a comforting sound that I can still hear it so distinctly. And after a while he gets up to go to the bathroom and he kind of like flicks on that little light. She's talking about the lamp by the bed.

I felt like I finally understood what it was about. I remember lying there and listening to his heartbeat. Yeah, just like listening to his heartbeat. It's such a comforting sound that I can still hear it so distinctly. And after a while he gets up to go to the bathroom and he kind of like flicks on that little light. She's talking about the lamp by the bed.

and I turn off that light and he flicks it on again and then I turn it back off. And we have this like little shared moment laughter. And he leaves and I turn the light on again and it looks like a crime scene. There is blood everywhere. This is the first time I had seen so much of my own menstrual fluid. I was afraid of it. I couldn't even fathom what he was gonna think about it.

and I turn off that light and he flicks it on again and then I turn it back off. And we have this like little shared moment laughter. And he leaves and I turn the light on again and it looks like a crime scene. There is blood everywhere. This is the first time I had seen so much of my own menstrual fluid. I was afraid of it. I couldn't even fathom what he was gonna think about it.

And then, I don't know how this happened, but my very own red, bloody handprint is on his white wall. Oh, my God.

And then, I don't know how this happened, but my very own red, bloody handprint is on his white wall. Oh, my God.

He didn't have any water or anything in his room, so I used my own saliva to wipe the bloody handprint off of the wall. Like, out, out, damn spa.

He didn't have any water or anything in his room, so I used my own saliva to wipe the bloody handprint off of the wall. Like, out, out, damn spa.

So I stuff them into my own backpack. What? Were you going to take him? Oh, yeah. Well, I have to get out of there.

So I stuff them into my own backpack. What? Were you going to take him? Oh, yeah. Well, I have to get out of there.

I know, but I wasn't thinking about that at the time. All I could think of is that I didn't want him to have to wash these sheets, and I didn't want him to have to clean up my mess, I guess.

I know, but I wasn't thinking about that at the time. All I could think of is that I didn't want him to have to wash these sheets, and I didn't want him to have to clean up my mess, I guess.