Not a Valentine

Chapter 11

I guess I'm just scared to talk about that part of myself out loud. Don't you have anything that you don't want to share either?

I'm not surprised by the text that comes up. I knew that we would eventually start talking more and more again. This had started out with me wanting to help Anonymous confess his feelings for the girl he likes, but along the way, we started talking about so much more. I didn't know what exactly it was, but it was nice to talk to someone I didn't know.

Of course.

So you get it.

I do. But even if there is something I don't want to share, I don't shut down my best friend.

How close do you get to it? It's so hard to be in proximity to someone when my head is full of thoughts I want to keep away.

I guess your situation is different. The things in my past that I want to keep hidden aren't problems now. As I've said, it's in the past. For you, it's your present.

With the rate it's going, it's going to be a forever thing.

I'm really sorry. There are self-help hotlines I can offer you.

I don't need it.

I was talking more along the lines of your parents. Drinking isn't a thing that is good for the body, especially the mind.

Oh, if we are talking about my parents, it's not going to work. I've tried so hard the first year to get them to see a specialist, but they never did. They both, instead, turned to argue with me.

Oh

And there were only so many times I could fight with them. I've just been leaving them alone.

I'm sorry for that then.

You don't have to apologize every time, Cupid.

I know, but I just feel terrible for you.

Don't; I'll be fine. And anyway, less than half a year will pass quickly before I can move away from here.

That stomps me out, causing me to feel worse than before I apologized. To know that Anonymous was counting down the months until he could move away from this town was so sad.

You want to move away—is that the reason you can't get yourself to get close to someone?

Partly. I'm not worried about leaving this town behind; I'm worried about how people will react when they find out how I live. It's not something I want to throw out and then leave.