73 Memories

The Twentieth Memory

"After I texted you, this girl came up to me. She said my name, and I smiled at her. She took that as an okay to talk to me, and I tried to be polite by listening to her stupid story. She gave me this weird hug after she finished her sob story, thanking me for listening. I told her it was no big deal, and then she just... kissed me. As soon as the fact that there was this weird girl on me, I heard you. And then you were running."

I sighed. "I figured."

This confused you. "Well, then why did you run?"

"Because, okay? You don't really know me, do you?"

I watched your eyebrows furrow even more. "What do you mean?"

I ignored your question. "You don't know where I'm from. You don't know anything about me that you should. You know exactly what I let you know."

"What does that mean?" You sat down on the chair across from me. "What are you not telling me?"

"A lot, okay? I'm not telling you a lot."

"Why?"

"Because I'm scared," I said, defeated.

You sighed. "Remember what you told me about being scared?"

I gave you a humorless laugh. "Yeah, I do. But it's different with me."

"Why?"

"This thing that I'm keeping from you- it's not about feelings or dates or anything like that. It's about why I'm here. It's about who I am and why I'm so vague and why I avoid half the questions you throw at me. This thing- I could lose you because of it."

"You won't lose me."

I sighed, exasperated and stood up. "How can you say that if you don't know what it is? How can you know for sure?"

"Because," you whispered. "I know you're a good person. I know you wouldn't hurt a soul."

"It's not about me."

"Then why would it matter?"

"What if I'm just like her?"

"Just like who?" you prodded. "Y0u can trust me."

I felt my knees buckle and I knew that I was giving in. I knew what I was about to do.

"What if I'm just like my mother?"