dear reddit,

i've been lurking on this sub for a while and i finally gathered the courage to share something that's been weighing on my heart. i'm a 21-year-old woman, always been very feminine, with a love for vintage dresses, floral prints, and all things pastel. i'm your classic girly-girl, but i have a secret that even my closest friends don't know.

growing up, i was always the shy, quiet type. my parents were loving but strict and they always emphasized the importance of proper behavior and appearance. i was never allowed to raise my voice, let alone express anger or frustration "ladies should always be composed and gentle" my mother would say.

when i was 16 something happened that changed me forever. one day, i was walking home from school, lost in thought, when a sudden storm rolled in. i started to rush, but the rain caught up with me and within minutes i was drenched. as i hurried past a construction site, a massive gust of wind blew a large sheet of plastic off the scaffolding, sending it flying straight at me. i froze, terrified, as the plastic enveloped me, knocking me to the ground.

i was trapped, panicked, and struggling to free myself. suddenly, a strong pair of hands gripped the plastic, tearing it away from me. a construction worker, a tall, muscular man with kind eyes helped me up. he was apologetic, asking if i was okay, but all i could focus on was the sensation of his strong hands pulling me to safety. there was something about his strength, his power that stirred something deep within me.

after that day, i started having dreams about that man, about his strength, about being overpowered. i would wake up flushed and confused, my heart pounding. i felt guilty and ashamed, but i couldn't stop the feelings that were growing inside me.

as i got older, i realized that what i was feeling was a kink, a desire to be dominated, to be overpowered. it was a stark contrast to my feminine, gentle demeanor, and it scared me. i was afraid that if anyone found out, they would judge me, think less of me.

but this secret has been eating away at me. i'm tired of feeling ashamed, of hiding a part of myself. i want to embrace it, understand it, and maybe, just maybe, find someone who understands too.

so, reddit, this is my confession. i'm a feminine, girly-girl with a dark secret. i'm not looking for judgement and maybe, some advice on how to work with this.

thank you for listening.