At eleven years old, I stood under an altar in a white lace dress, received a ring, and pledged myself to a promise I didn’t fully understand.

This is the story of how a single question from a friend shattered my perception, how a comment in a car made me question everything, and how I slowly unraveled the fear, control, and shame that had been woven into my understanding of myself.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses themes of religious influence, purity culture, and the impact of shame-based teachings around sexuality. Listener discretion is advised.