I'm Waiting

Ninth

"I can't wait until I'm a year older." I huffed as I sat down next to him. He seemed much happier than he had yesterday. I knew he didn't want to talk about what had made him break down and cry. What caused him to cling to me when I held him.

"Why is that?" His notebook was tucked under his leg, like he was trying to resist the urge to pull it out and transfer to it the thoughts in his mind.

"Because then I'll be 18 and won't have to listen to the shit my mom tells me."

"You mean you don't want to have to obey her anymore." He smiled to himself, and I sighed again.

"Well, that's part of it-"

"But you know, you'll miss it someday. All the things you thought you hated about her." He looked directly into my eyes, and I got the feeling that he was speaking from deep personal experience.

"She's also really homophobic."

"Oh...I see." He blinked a few times, brushing back the hair from his forehead. "Which must be very hard for you. My dad's like that too."

"Which is hard for you?" Maybe he was into boys after all. Maybe there was a chance for me. Maybe—

"Very hard. I still have almost two years, so you're lucky." He leaned back on the bench, putting his hands behind his head and basking in the warmth of the sun that shone down on us both.

The warmth I felt at his words spread from inside me until I could no longer hold back my grin. He cracked his eyes open, squinting over at me as I stared at him.

"What?" He laughed, and I smiled even bigger.

"I didn't realize you were gay."

"And why would that make you so happy?" But there was a hint of a smile in his words, like he knew exactly why.

"Because I am too."