Jade studies me quietly, then asks, almost gently, "So, when did you come out?"
Her tone is calm, curious, not judgmental. The Lion King continues in the background, Simba running across the screen, but it all feels muted compared to her question.
"I never really came out," I answer after a pause, forcing a shrug like it's not a big deal. My voice comes out thinner than I'd like. I drop back down beside her on the bed, pulling the blanket over my knees. "It was more of… a traumatic push."
I laugh once, but it's hollow, the kind of laugh you give when the truth is too sharp to leave bare. "After that, it wasn't even a matter of telling people. It was just… obvious. I mean, I basically radiate gay." I roll the 'r' in "radiate" dramatically, trying to mask the crack in my voice with a bit of humor.
Jade smiles faintly at my attempt to lighten it, but I can feel her watching me, really watching, and for once, I don't look away.
