again, nervously this time. “Look at me. The English major
with nothing to say. I’m trying to tell you that I am also only
interested in women. So I do understand. I know that it’s hard
to try to figure that out. I know exactly how hard it is to tell
everyone. I did it when I was just out of high school. I knew
way before then, but I just couldn’t face getting shredded apart
and having to deal with that on top of all the other high school
crap. It’s not easy.”
“No. It’s not.” That’s all I can say, because now I am
definitely the one with a blank, shocked face. I’m completely
blindsided. Tildy is Adley’s niece. She’s also a lesbian. She
really does understand in a way that I never could have
imagined.
“I told everyone after. I was scared too. Of all the stuff.
Losing people’s respect. Having people see me a certain way.
Losing friends. My family was awesome. My mom and dad.
My sister. I was so scared that I made myself believe Mandy
wouldn’t want to hang out with me anymore. She’s four years
older anyway, but I just thought that she’d never want to have
a relationship with me again. We were always pretty close,
despite the age gap. I really looked up to her. She was
amazing. Everyone made sure I knew that I was loved no
matter what and that it was totally fine to be me. I lost a few
friends, but they probably would have drifted off anyway after
high school. That just happens.”
“It does.”
“I can’t imagine how hard it was for you, all this time.
I wasn’t fully sure for a while, and then I only had a few years
where I had to fake it. I wasn’t trying to make it. Just trying to
get by until things were easier. I guess that’s how I thought