Page 123 of Maybe You

It’s there.

It’s a part of me, knitted into my whole being so tightly that unraveling it would only leave scraps behind.

This is Wren, who loves Sutton.

I can’t put it in a box and force the lid shut.

I can’t hide it.

I don’t want to hide it.

“I love you.”

The words come with a rush of relief.

I’m finally speaking the truth.

This is me, letting Sutton see everything.

This is Wren, who loves Sutton.

Hi.

Nice to meet you.

And then…

Silence.

Complete and total silence.

The kind of shocked silence that follows when you’ve detonated a bomb and the debris has finally stopped falling.

The silence of the aftermath.

I don’t think Sutton is even breathing anymore. He’s that still.

Even so, somewhere deep inside me there’s a tiny, tiny part that rolls his eyes.

Come on.

This can’t be that much of a surprise.

He must’ve seen it.

Suspected it.

At the very least, considered the possibility.

I haven’t hidden it that well.

At least… I don’t think so.

And there’s no turning back now.

“I love you,” I repeat. It comes out more hoarsely than I’d necessarily like. “I’m in love with you.”

He looks away then, clutching the soft fabric of the couch.

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