“Can I speak to you in private?” » “Yes – So what?” » “The next story. » I stay in my place while my colleagues leave the room. Sitting at the same table as my teacher, I fix my gaze on his nose. “I understand that classrooms are open environments for discussing the themes and nuances of life through literature, but I will not attend the next class session or any other session regarding the reading assignment in course. » He took the text and played with its pages. , summarizing the text for itself: "This next story revolves around the internal dialogue of a young person questioning his sexuality, whose early sexual experiences – sexual assault... and rape by an older man – call into question questions his identity as a man and expectations. of heterosexuality..." he stops flipping through the pages and meets my gaze, "I understand why this can be upsetting to read. » “Yes, I came to you directly rather than going through the administration because I want you to understand that I am very open about this and would like to resolve this on your terms rather than mine. I felt my silicone inserts sucked up to my chest with sweat, I didn't like his summary. “I respect you and your request, I excuse you from class and duty.” Seeing my gratitude, he hastened to add: “There is no need to compensate with additional reading or testing. Does it work? » I nod and leave. I zipped up my jacket as I ascended the blue stairwell, wading among petrified fish painted on the walls and excited whale moans like groups of students. I go out to the second floor and run into my partner, “Ken!” » I grab her and hold her a few inches from me, a distance she instantly closes with a kiss. "I went to Peter and explained to him... in the middle of a paper... my strangely red face of a color. neither of us had seen it. "I did that too, with Ray and Ben, but they wouldn't touch me back." I nodded, "Neither did James." "I guess we paid for our pizza, didn't we?" We made a break and had a hard time remembering if we ate any. The last time we drank, James slapped me for asking if I could do it. "I'm not gay." -he said hitting me again, "take it like a bitch". "V8 and Blood mix well, a lesson best taught by a vampire. Today is Friday, April 25, 2014, and I stand up in the crowded forum like I have since middle school. But this year, my “bisexual” pin was replaced with a “?” I like to believe so, but I always wonder. Based on real events.