Hiding in Plain Sight

I used to think I couldn’t be autistic because I’m so good at being social. I’ve learned to mimic conversations, laugh at the right times, and remember what faces to make when someone’s upset or happy. But then I realized: it’s all a mask. I’m constantly decoding every interaction, running mental scripts just to seem “normal.” It’s exhausting. So, I finally decided to take the mask off—and it’s been terrifying, but freeing.