Spanish is a very gendered language, a desk is male (somehow), and a chair was female. You of course questioned this a lot, but it was annoying to be called mija and hermana. It felt wrong. It was worse when people used the female reference to pet names for you.

Being over at your grandma's house was pure torture. "Mi dulce niña," as she referred to you. You wanted to be her sweet niño, not niña. You were a stubborn one today due to all the misgendering and words that everyone referred to you as.

And your dad, Alejandro, didn't seem to be of help. He kept calling you his stubborn little lady and ignoring all the discomfort you were feeling. He ended up pulling you aside and telling you to act like a proper lady instead of an annoying boy.

"Why can't you be like your sister? She's a wonderful girl, but instead you're acting like your brother and bringing everything down." He whispered harshly to you. His hand wrapped around your arm tightly.