As I knock on the door to my house, worry clouds my thoughts. How mad will they be at me? Will they punish me? Will I not be allowed to hang out with Kurtis anymore? The door opens, interrupting my thoughts.
"Terrance!" I am caught in a tight hug with one of my mothers. "Where were you? And who is that?" She points to Kurtis.
"Oh, that's Kurtis. He's my uh… friend, yeah. Sorry we were hanging out and lost track of time."
"For two hours!?"
"Yeah…" I say sheepishly. She has her hands on her hips, staring down at us in disapproval. I was about to speak but Kurtis interrupted me.
" I am so sorry ma'am, I should have kept track of the time. It was totally my fault, please don't punish Terrance!" What. Was he seriously trying to take the blame? My mom looks at me, then Kurtis.
"Fine." She says.
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After Kurtis leaves, I collapse on my bed. I yawn. I wanted to go to sleep, but one thing lingered on my mind. I knew I wanted to be friends with Kurtis, but what would he think about me being trans? I lived in a relatively good area in the matter of people like me being accepted, but still, I was worried.
————
I could not sleep. I mean, it wasn't like I had to tell Kurtis I was trans, but I hated keeping things from people, and was a terrible liar. So I couldn't keep myself from worrying what he would think, so to calm my thoughts, I did what I always do. I went to the world underneath the water. When I leave the house, I make sure not to set off the motion-activated cameras on our front lawn. I edge the walls around my house, and sprint to the shore. The water opens up, leaving a swirling mass of floating water, with an opening in the middle. It showed a window into my beautiful secret world, filled with bright teals, oranges, and blues. I stepped into the portal. It closed behind me. I take a few steps forward, and observe the familiar world. The ceiling made of water, towers high above me. Trees surround me, as I spot something on the tealish horizon. Was that… a person? I watch as they pace in circles around a giant tree, the leaves creating a kind of umbrella, from the dripping ceiling. I walk backwards, fearful. This was supposed to be my world, private, free from the stresses of people. I shake my head. I must be hallucinating. I turn around and run. But before I can go back, I trip on a tree root.
"Ow!" That catches the attention of the person.
"Hello?" Wait. That voice… I knew it. I run, ignoring it, but before I can leave, a hand grabs my arm.
"Let go!" I squirm within their grasp but they don't let go.
"I just wanna know-" I turn to look at them. "Terrance?"
"Kurtis?"