I just need to get this off my chest. I’m still a virgin, and honestly, it makes me feel ashamed sometimes. I grew up in a religious environment where the whole “wait until marriage” thing was drilled into me. For a while, that gave me some comfort, like I was doing the right thing. But outside of that bubble, the world feels completely different. Everyone talks about sex and relationships like they’re milestones you’re supposed to hit, and if you haven’t, you’re weird or behind. So now I’m stuck in the middle. In religious spaces I feel pressured to stay “pure.” Outside of that, I feel like people would judge me for being inexperienced or “late.” No matter which way I look, I feel like I’m failing some kind of test. I don’t wanna rush into something just because I feel left out, but I’m so tired of carrying around this shame and embarrassment. It feels like it’s eating away at my confidence.