Sincerely, Leah

1

I should be dreading the start of school next week. I'm not the kind of person who despises school with a passion, but the part I hate is going back after summer. I've been thinking a lot about my father this summer, and I just need to go back to normal again.

Right now, I'm sitting on my bed, listening to Troye Sivan. I only do that when I'm alone. No one knows I'm bisexual, except for my mother. I kinda just said it back when I was 11, right after my dad walked out on us.

I have to stop thinking about him.

My phone starts buzzing. Its a FaceTime request from Abby. We only met her this past month but it feels like we've known her forever. She's just moved from DC, has divorced parents, undeniably beautiful, undeniably straight.

I answer the call.

"Hey, Leah!", she greets cheerily.

"Hey.", I answer dully.

I always come off as super cocky and arrogant, and I hate that about me. What I say isn't what I mean.

"What do you want?", I say.

"Oh, nothing. Just checking up on you after today. Are you alright?"

Oh, yes. My little outburst. We were all hanging out and then, some nutjob came up to us. That nutjob being my father, trying to come back into my life. He told me to lose weight, so I threw a plate of waffles in his face and ran home. Is it that crazy that I might actually like my body and shape the way it is?

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine.", I lie. I'm ready to cry, but I'd never tell Abby that.

"I understand. My father's a dick too. I wish we didn't have to have them. But I suppose, we wouldn't have been born without them."

I chuckle slightly.

There's a pause. For a moment, we just look at each other.

"So, uh, I gotta go. You sure you're OK?"

"I'm fine. Thanks."

"OK. See you tomorrow."

"See you then."

I end the call, and I fall back onto the bed. I'm really not in the mood for talking daddy issues with Abby Suso, now or ever.

• • • • • •

Its the final day of summer break, also known as the most depressing day in the calendar. I'm planning on just staying at home all day, listening to music and scrolling through my phone and laptop. I decide to go onto the school's Tumblr, Creeksecrets, for shits and giggles. Nothing new, just the typical gossip and rumours that go on in a "safe environment".

One post catches my eye, however. I read it.

I sometimes feel like I'm in a sold out concert on the verge of an anxiety attack. One second, I'm dancing and loving life, the next, I'm crying for help. My life is generally good, but nobody knows I'm a bi girl.
-April

I notice an email address above the post: byso200@gmail.com.

I open up another window and I create a new Gmail account, because my existing one includes my name. I'm presuming this girl wants to be anonymous, so I should be the same. I should be respectful for once.

I try to come up with a name for the address. I take notice of the song playing. Somebody Else by The 1975.

What can I say? Emo rock is my shit.

I enter in intertwining.your.soul@gmail.com.

I click "compose email" and I begin writing.

From: intertwining.your.soul@gmail.com
To: byso200@gmail.com
Subject: hi, I suppose

Dear April,
I'm just like you in a way. I have the same secret, I mean. Well, not really because I'm out to my mother but none of my friends. Anyway, I'm into girls as well. Other than that, my life is normal, I suppose, in the depressing way. I do have a few great friends though that I love more than anything. They're a good escape. And what do I need to escape from? I have to trust you first. I hope to hear back.
-Limerick

I press send, and I sit back on the bed. All that's left to do now is wait to see if she bothers to reply.