I was 14 when the late King Richard III was uprooted from his resting place beneath a reserved car spot in an unassuming Leicester car park. Year 8 History was a bit of a cracker that day: the blinds were drawn and my teacher was lurking in the corner with a manic glint in her…

I see him That gaslight king, Charming and quick   No one would realise he was covering up such a little…   So long he has fooled Everyone he meets That all of these women Just fall at his feet   Like he doesn’t run his fingers through their hair And kiss their soul  …

I hope you’re okay. Not in the way that people on the outside will ask, “How are you?” and neglect to hear out the answer. Or how a well-meaning person might say, “I hope you feel better soon,” as if our illnesses were common colds that come round once a year, then disappear without a…

It’s four in the morning and I am forced awake by the piercing pain — the pain I know so well. It starts and spreads all over my pelvis, then the dreaded, piping-hot dagger reaches inside of me, spreading the pain upwards through my abdomen and down my thighs. Ah, yes — here we go…

Walking down to Winifred Falls with my church mates, 14-year-old me is dressed in black, low-waisted bikini bottoms and a white crop under my clothes. I’m fucking nervous. The people I’m with are some of my nearest and dearest, sure, but they’re also the type to un-ironically claim (to females almost exclusively) that “modest is…

I’m watching the windows of the car condense and blur out the night streets as the radio presenter exclaims, “…more and more people are redefining the first time they had sex – whether it be the first time they masturbated, had any sexual experience, or orgasmed…” I chuckle to myself, more for comical effect than…

I’ve always been one of those people who complains about being attracted to emotionally unavailable guys, while also being emotionally unavailable myself. For four years now I’ve been single, and the only solid commitment I’ve had has been with Tinder and white wine. In moments of weakness (or shall I say “when tipsy and horny”),…

I’m writing from my hometown – so-called Fremantle – which is really Walyalup on Whadjuk-Noongar country. Throughout my life, I haven’t thought enough about that. I’m also writing from my soft, young, white (Croatian, Chilean, Australian) queer body. A body that is comfortably cis-female and simultaneously rejects gender identification with fervent force – if that’s…

After ‘What Every Woman Should Carry’ by Maura Dooley My first love gave me a lighter that was broken. I don’t smoke so I packed: a spare teabag, a pair of socks (they’re his – size 8), the morning after pill (in date – just), a book to pretend to read in case there is…

It’s taking all of my energy to write this. As someone who writes a lot on good days, that feels strange to say. But I’m deliberately writing this on a bad day in the midst of a devastating low to capture how I’m feeling. I’m in the middle of an endometriosis pain flare. What does…

“So, when are the kids coming?”“They’re coming when you stop asking me that.” This isn’t true, but it shuts them up long enough. “Are you getting married so young because you’re pregnant?”“I’m getting married so young because it’s none of your damn business.” I’d barely made it down the aisle before I started getting berated…

“Tell me where you feel it.” commands the psychologist. I place my hand on my chest, right at the top of my sternum. “In here,” I reply. “What does it feel like?” “Um... it just feels very tight,” I answer. I could tell her it feels like my chest is being compressed, compounded and then…