Hey, is this okay?

Can I sleep here for the night?

Do you mind at all?

Am I bothering you?

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.

Will you let me sleep here, in this corner?

I promise I won’t be too loud.

I promise I won’t wake up in the middle of the night.

Sobbing and begging to be held.

I promise I won’t.

I just feel safer with a friend.

Is that alright with you?

Can I rest my head on your shoulder, for a little while?

I just need a little bit of affection.

Can we sit together in this corner?

I just wanna talk about anything and everything.

I just wanna laugh so hard it hurts.

I wanna smile so long I feel better.

Can we do that?

Can we talk and laugh and smile?

I just feel better with a friend.

I wanna sleep in this corner near you.

I’m feeling a little bit sick.

Unspoken words rising up my throat like bile.

I force and choke them down.

But they come rising back up again.

I feel them, just underneath my tongue.

I’m scared, but I open my mouth.

“I want to.

I want to.

I want to.

I want to show you something.”

See that boy?

He’s beautiful, right?

I like the way his eyes swirl with something unknown.

I like the way he can yell and joke.

I like the way he can be soft and gentle.

I like the way he can be rough and demanding.

I like the way he can make me feel safe.

I like the way he is all of this and more.

Rumor has it, I fell in love with him.

Rumor has it, he seduced me.

Rumor has it, he put a spell on me.

These rumors aren’t far from the truth.

I do still love him.

But I won’t force him into anything.

I wouldn’t be a good friend if I did.

This boy, whom I love, is you.

I was just wondering, is this okay?

Can I just, sit down next to you in a corner?

I feel safer with a friend.