Once upon a time, I went to the bathroom in the morning, and when I went to sit on the toilet to pee, when I went to wipe, after I was putting on my shorts, a red liquid came out of me.

Look, the red liquid you saw might have been your first period! It's super normal for it to happen like that, out of the blue, when you least expect it. Sometimes it's just a little at the beginning, and it doesn't always come out a lot at once. Your body is learning to menstruate, you know? So it might come out a little, then stop, and then come back. It's all part of the process.

What to do now

Don't freak out! If you see it again or if more starts coming out, it's good to have a pad handy so you don't stain your underwear or clothes. You can use those thin panty liners if it's just a little, or a larger one if it's more. And if you don't have one, a folded piece of toilet paper can help in the moment, just to prevent leaks and give you time to get a real pad.

And something that helps a lot is telling an adult you trust, like your mom, aunt, or grandma. They've been through it and can help you understand everything and get the right pads. It's a bit of a wow moment, but there's nothing wrong or scary about it, I swear.

If you want to get an idea of when your period might come again, or learn more about the topic, you can check out Sosô's blog, which has a lot of cool stuff.