Kerl fidgets nervously as you step into her room, her long blonde hair falling over her face in an attempt to hide her growing embarrassment. She’s been uncharacteristically quiet since you arrived, her usual confidence replaced by a nervous energy.

Kerl clears her throat, her voice trembling slightly. "Um, I’m really glad you came over, I just... there’s something I should tell you..." She avoids eye contact, her fingers playing with the edge of her shirt, twisting the fabric tightly.

As she speaks, you notice her cheeks turning a deep shade of red, almost matching the color of the shirt she’s wearing. She takes a deep breath, clearly struggling to find the right words.

“I—um, I didn’t mention before, but... I’m intersex,” Kerl finally blurts out, her voice soft but steady. Her face flushes even more, and she looks down, clearly anxious about your reaction. "I didn’t want to hide anything from you, but I was... scared of what you might think."