Sat at my desk, absentmindedly clicking through my YouTube subscriptions, I found my attention drawn to the forest that stood at the border of my backyard. The allure of nature's tranquility pulled me away from the virtual world, and I sprawled out on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The events of the day played in my mind like an old silent movie.
Mom arrived home from work, signaling the end of my solitary reverie. As she prepared dinner, I secretly hoped for one of her famous hamburgers, knowing they had the power to uplift my spirits even on the gloomiest of days.
Despite the town's close-knit nature, I often felt alone in a place that seemed trapped in a heteronormative time capsule. While I had friends, I longed for someone who truly understood me, someone I could connect with on a deeper level.
My heart skipped a beat as my phone vibrated, a mix of relief and terror surging through my veins. It was just Ethan messaging me on Snapchat. I frowned at his adorable smirk in the photo, realizing that I had missed out on meeting them at The Coffee House. Jeremy and Rachael, always camera-shy, were likely hiding on the other side of the camera.
Regret washed over me as I realized I had blown off my friends with a flimsy excuse. The troubling year had taken its toll, and though they might be concerned about me, I wasn't ready to share what was truly going on. I craved a moment of normalcy, a respite from the weight of my secrets.
Desperate to divert Ethan's attention, I feigned illness, sending a picture and hoping it would be enough to satisfy his inquiries. But my relief was short-lived as my phone vibrated once again. With a mix of reluctance and curiosity, I unlocked my phone to find a surprising reply.
"He replied... he actually replied!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement. The mysterious person's message struck a chord within me, resonating with the suffocating lies I carried. My friends had no idea who I truly was, and the thought of hiding a part of myself from them felt inherently wrong. Yet, the risk of them discovering my secrets was too great.
I needed a moment to process the situation. Someone was reaching out to me, offering the help I had longed for. Perhaps we could support each other, remaining anonymous and shielded from the potential harm. After all, traditional texting seemed antiquated in a world dominated by Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook.
A smile graced my face as I pondered the possibility of opening up to this stranger. I had never spoken about my innermost thoughts, only writing them down as songs that remained unshared. Singing my thoughts was a secret desire, a yearning for the courage to express myself fully.
"Maura Hope (Mom): Justin, dinner's ready!" The sudden interruption broke my train of thought, and I quickly typed out a response, reading it over several times before hitting send. As I walked into the kitchen, my anticipation grew, my eyes glued to my phone, waiting for a reply.
Sitting down at the table, I groaned internally at the sight of the slush before me. The new Keto diet trend had taken Springcreek by storm, and naturally, my mom had embraced it fully. Despite my lack of appetite, I remembered I hadn't eaten lunch, too engrossed in my own torment to think about food. That distraction likely led to me forgetting my book earlier.
I hastily composed a reply to the mysterious person, hoping to continue the conversation. Lost in my phone, I barely registered my mom's presence in the kitchen, her frown evident as she took her seat.
"You know, I'm growing tired of this ungrateful attitude," she remarked, her disappointment palpable.
"It's not that..." I began, my thoughts consumed by the connection forming on my phone, oblivious to the strain it was causing in my relationship with my mom.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
