Spooky Spandex

Clare L •  Washington •  25

I was at a volleyball tournament wearing tiny spandex and I was down reffing, meaning I was the ref standing at the net. I felt something happen and I innately knew that I had started my period. But the down ref has to stay the entire game. So I just stood there, hoping that no one else could tell what I knew was happening in my spandex.

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After the game, I ran to the bathroom. My parents could never sit through a whole volleyball tournament so they were off at Costco and I couldn’t reach my mom. One of my teammates gave me 25 cents to buy a gigantic pad with the texture of sandpaper that they sell in those bathroom dispensers. I then had to spend the rest of the day pretending no one could see my pad through my spandex.

Everything's Okay

Anushka A •  Uttar Pradesh, India •  21

I got my first period when I was visiting my dad for Christmas. I was so embarrassed because I didn't know how to tell my dad so I stayed without a pad for 2 hours.

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Then I finally called mom. After that, my dad bought my first sanitary napkins and told me that “menstruation is okay.”

Where are you, Nathan?

Alessia M •  Connecticut •  29

I was 12 years old. The boy of my dreams asked me to walk to the corner store with him. I picked out my favorite outfit and did my hair all cute. I had been having some stomach pain, but I was excited and didn't want to miss it. 

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About halfway there, I felt something very wrong. I realized that it must be my period and I started running home without explaining why I was running away from him.

He was heartbroken and never spoke to me again after that day. Nathan, where are you now???