ANDRE
Who knew that being told you are doing well and that someone is proud of you would turn you into a sobbing mess?
Jude doesn't berate me; instead, hugging me as I try to keep myself under control.
"No one has ever told me that," I say after a few minutes. "Thank you."
"That's what friends are for."
"I am glad I am doing life with you. I am happy that you guys are my friends and you understand me, hold me even when I am not sure I deserve to be held. Even when I feel like I am weak because my mind isn't strong enough, scared because of the results I am facing based on choices I made … I am thankful that I am not alone anymore and that I have you with me."
"We are all in the same boat," he sighs, his head tilting to lay on mine where I am lying on his shoulder. "We are brothers, and brothers don't judge or leave their own behind. We are still kids, but the world we are in won't accept that about us anymore.
