The Rug’s Topography began with me photographing my intimate partner of six years. Simultaneously, we were facing an internal conflict: how we identified as individuals differed from the roles we occupied in our partnership. As we began to grow apart romantically, our anxieties rose in response to the distance widening between us. Our individual identities within a romantic context stemmed from the commonality of both having witnessed predominantly cisgender roles during our formative years. Our performance of those expectations was perpetuated by inexperience and an impulse to adhere to, or in my case, “correct,” our potential family structure. Recognizing a shared inherent foundation opened our dialogue, and together we began unpacking our preconceived notions regarding societal norms. Collaborating visually to express our reflections catalyzed the reconciling of our emotional intimacy amid separation. It is through the juxtaposition of gaze and gesture we create blended self-portraits, expressing our emotions concerning who we were and who we’ll become.