Page 98 of Don't Let Me Go
“Actually, do you have a minute to talk?” I ask.
“Sure,” she chirps, sliding into the chair across from me. “What’s up?”
“So, this might come a little out of left field,” I begin, trying to sound as casual as I can, “but I wanted to ask you about your parents.”
Her brow furrows. “My parents?”
“Yeah. Riley told me that when you first started dating Audrey, your parents weren’t exactly on board. And I was wondering, you know, how you dealt with that?”
“Oh.” My question seems to take her aback.
“Sorry. Is that too personal? I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, it’s okay,” she says, recovering with a smile. “And Riley’s right. It was a definite adjustment for my parents. It still is sometimes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Queer,Muslim,andEgyptianaren’t words that are typically used in the same sentence. At least, not in my family. I mean, the mosque we go to is somewhat progressive. But there’s still a lot of shame and confusion in the Muslim community when it comes to queerness and homosexuality. And sometimes it’s difficult for my parents to navigate that.”
“Yeah. I bet.”
“Don’t get me wrong, my parents love me,” Tala clarifies. “And they really like Audrey. In fact, on some level, I think my dad is actually relieved I’m dating a girl. He doesn’t have to worry about becoming a grandfather before I graduate.”
We both laugh, but a second later Tala’s smile falters.
“Of course, my parents still refer to Audrey as my ‘friend’ no matter how many times I correct them. And sometimes my mom says things that make me think she’s okay with me dating a girl so long as when I finally decide to settle down and marry, I end up with a guy.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“It’s a process. Some days my parents are totally fine with having a queer daughter, and we’ll watchHeartstoppertogether, and everything seems great.”
“And other days?”
“Other days not so much.” She shrugs. “But the important thing to me is that they’re trying. I see them putting in the effort to educate themselves. I know they want to understand me. Even if they still have certain hang-ups or they occasionally say things that make me want to pull my hair out, I know their hearts are in the right place. I know they love me. And that makes all the difference.”
Tala smiles. It’s a smile filled with hope. I want to return it, but all I can do is stare at my hands and wonder if my parents will ever make half the effort that the Youssefs are making. Given how they spoke to me on my birthday and how they haven’t spoken to me since, it’s hard to imagine they will.
“Did that answer your question?” Tala asks.
“Yeah. It did. Thanks.”
“Great.” She pauses. “Do you mind if I askyoua question?”
“Uh?.?.?.?sure.”
“Does your question about what it’s like to be in a same-sex relationship when you have conservative parents have anything to do with all the time you’ve been spending with my best pal Riley?”
I feel the heat rise in my cheeks. Even if I tried to deny theimplication—which I don’t want to do—Tala wouldn’t believe me. My face is a dead giveaway. As is the oddly proud smile that I’m unable to hold back.
“Yeah,” I hear myself confess. “We’re sort of?.?.?.?dating.”
Tala gasps and covers her mouth with her hands. “Iknewit!”
I can’t help laughing out loud, and Tala instantly blushes.
“Oh, sorry! I mean, congratulations!”
“I guess it’s sort of obvious that we’re into each other, huh?”
