#greyaromantic

Even though I’m aroace, I recognize that I have the passing privilege of an allohet. In the vast majority of scenarios, I don’t get harassed, threatened, or “corrected” for my orientation. There are some who aren’t as lucky as me. Especially because I’m romance-favorable. I can’t relate to the “ew love” of aro meme culture or the “love makes you complete and human” from allo culture.

It’s like a firepit to me. I want to make a campfire to roast some marshmallows, but my lighter works differently. It’s not broken or bad, just doesn’t make fire often. I strike it over and over, but it rarely makes any sparks, and a spark doesn’t mean the log will catch flame. I look to my left; there are loads of people with fire and toasted marshmallows. I look to my right; there’s a smaller group who don’t have fire, but some don’t want marshmallows and others think marshmallows are gross, so they don’t need a spark. I know that I don’t need toasted marshmallows to live, but it would be nice to have.

It’s reading romance negative posts online and simultaneously seeing the image of a “whole” person with a partner that sometimes makes me think I don’t belong anywhere.