22 Letters by Salem Miles

Author:Salem Miles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Salem Miles
Published: 2023-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

He took me to the garden.

I'm still in shock at this decision, but I need things to be explained, so I guess I can trust him with his destination choices. I wouldn't have trusted anyone to take me to the garden on a school day, especially when we're supposed to be at school at the moment. But I guess this is what Nathan does; he leaves the school whenever he wants to.

He will only subject me to this behaviour once, and never again. I'm Dominican.

Sitting down on the grass, I wait for him to explain, but when he doesn't say anything, I decide to break the ice.

"I didn't think you'd bring me here," I say, staring at his side profile.

"You told me that this was your safe space," he answers.

"And you remembered?"

"How could I not?" He then looks at me. "It's my safe space too. I wish I could have known about it sooner. Everything here is so peaceful, so calm. When I'm here, everything just leaves my mind. I'm at peace, and right now, I just want to be at peace."

"Peace is nice," I add. "Peace is good."

"The idea of escaping reality for a moment is why I always come here when things get rough," he explains. "The real world sucks sometimes, it's nice to forget after a while."

"How often do you come here?" I ask him.

"Everyday," he whispers. "I come here everyday."

Everyday.

There's silence between us as we look at the sun, watching it set. Perhaps the chance to escape reality, the perils of this world, and the terrors of the dark, are revived at the sight of the Garden for him. I know that's the case for me, because when I'm here, I have the chance to forget. To leave the timid, overshadowed Leon behind, and be...just Leon.

When I'm here, I'm only Leon.

"What happened, Nathan?" I finally ask.

He chuckles softly, picking at a tulip. "You know, I remember promising my mom I'd live under the radar because of my reputation. She told me if anyone knew, they'd try to use that as leverage and try to steal opportunities away from me. I should've known better, actually no, I should've hid it better. I thought no one would ever notice it."

"Notice what exactly?"

Nathan smiles bitterly. "I'm bi, Leon."

My anxiety turned into happiness for a brief moment, but I proceed to respond. "Okay?"

Nathan gulps. "Matthew and Derek found out. I guess I was acting extra suspicious lately, but they found out...and Coach Jameson has history of being homophobic, so he kicked me off the team without a proper reason. So...yeah, that's my life right now."

"Derek?" I ask. "I understand Matt but...Derek?"

"He was the one that found out and 'accidentally' told Matt. I don't know how it happened, but he fucked me over with that one. You need better friends."

"I don't think he meant to say it," I defend Derek even though my disappointment is evident. "Maybe it slipped out."

"Even if he did, it's none of his business, is it?"

"Nate, I understand you're upset but.

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