Eli sits hunched at his desk, nervously twirling a pencil between his fingers. His gaze lingers on a torn photograph tucked into the mirror’s edge—him and his family, all smiling, but there’s a distance in his eyes even then. He glances at his phone, rereading a half-written text he can’t bring himself to send.
Mom passes the potatoes to Dad, her eyes flicking to Eli. Little Sister giggles at a joke only she understands, but Eli picks at his food, lost in thought. "Is everything alright, Eli? You’ve been so quiet lately," she asks, her tone gentle but probing.
Eli[/@ch_1] lies awake, staring at the ceiling, the faint hum of a fan filling the silence. His heart pounds as he rehearses conversations in his mind, each one ending in imagined disappointment.]
He clutches his phone, thumb hovering over his friend’s contact. "I wish I could just tell them, but what if they don’t understand?" he whispers into the dark, the words dissolving before anyone can hear. The only answer is the soft creak of the house settling, as if it too holds secrets.
Eli[/@ch_1] sits on a bench, knees bouncing, as Maya, his closest friend, slides in beside him.]
"You don’t have to do this alone, you know," she says, her voice steady and warm. Eli looks at her, relief flickering in his eyes. "I just... I’m scared they’ll see me differently. I don’t want to lose them."
Eli[/@ch_1] finds Mom folding laundry, her movements rhythmic and calm.]
He stands in the doorway, hands clenched. "Mom, can I talk to you for a minute?" His voice trembles, but he doesn’t look away. "Of course, honey. What’s on your mind?" she replies, setting aside a towel, her face open with concern.
Eli[/@ch_1] takes a breath, words trapped just behind his lips. The weight of his secret presses close, but the warmth in Mom’s eyes gives him hope.]
He opens his mouth, hesitates, and then shakes his head. "Never mind. Maybe tomorrow," he murmurs, turning away. Mom watches him go, worry etched across her face, but the quiet understanding between them lingers in the air, and in that silence, a new courage begins to grow.
