Everybody's got a pas. " he said. "That dosen't mean you can't have a future

Everybody's got a pas. " he said. "That doesn't mean you can't have a future

I put one of my headphones back in, watch the road drift by, and try not to think about how Eric couldn’t hear me at the water park, and how my secret is still safe, and how Eric looked cute without a shirt on, and how I wish I didn’t even think that. It had been a mistake to think to tell him. I push the truth down. Bury it. Stick a grave marker on top. What’s one more year of life as a boy?

My thoughts drift to Mom and I wonder if I would have been able to tell her how I felt wrong in my own body, if she would have understood. Mom was sensitive, and soft-spoken, and always kind—even to people I could tell she didn’t like. I think she would have loved me no matter what.I guess I’ll never know.But I can hope.

When we got to the house he opened the trash-can lid and tossed the baseball mitts inside."Bye, Andrew," I said softly."Bye, son," Dad agreed, as we went inside.