[EDIT: The first version of this post omitted several important people. I am terribly, deeply sorry to all of those I forgot.]

I owe my life to kindnesses, both large and small, from the following people, in no particular order:

Mom

Christine

the residents of Thrillhouse

the City of San Francisco

Aunt Kathy and Uncle Mike

Aunt Debby and Uncle Tim

Joey

Dan

r/transgender

Autumn

Q

Andrea

Liz

The other Liz

Lucy

Brother Bimbo

His sidekick Charlie

Jeff

Julian

The Peevers

Grandma and Grandpa

Dad

James

Kelsey

Kate

the other Kate

Lauren

Kat

Sam

the other Sam, and his family

Ron

To all of you, thank you. Whether you provided me with shelter, held me when I cried, answered my panicked midnight phone calls, helped me get a job, or just talked to me like you thought that I deserved to keep breathing, even when I didn’t.

I’d be dead without you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.