Standing in a Crowded London Gallery and Feeling I Have a Right to the Floor

Dear Delyara, I attended a contemporary art exhibition opening in central London tonight—the kind of high-profile, elegant event full of designers, collectors, and intense conversations that usually makes me feel like a complete imposter who snuck in through the back door. I stood in the center of the polished concrete floor with a glass of sparkling water, looking at the large-scale installations, and for the first time in my life, I didn't try to hide in the corners or look at my phone to pretend I was busy. I looked at the art, I listened to the voices, and I felt a deep, cool sense of belonging. I don't need a specific title or a certain tax bracket to occupy space in this city. I am a human being with a mind and an eye, and my perspective is entirely valid. I walked through the crowd with my chin up, completely at home in the room.