Stephanie turns to run, but I stop her.
I do not grab her arm or block her path. I call her name, softly, and somehow that is enough. I need her to understand. Stephanie is the one person I can be completely myself with, the one person I do not have to hide my love of anime, science fiction, or video games from. She never looks at me like I am strange for caring about those things. If anything, she cares more deeply than I do.
Honestly, she is probably better at all of it than I am.
And that only makes this hurt more.
"Please," I say quietly.
It is only one word, barely more than a breath, but it makes her stop. She stands there with her back to me, shoulders tight, as if she is bracing herself for another blow.
"Who… who is it?" she asks, her voice thick as she sniffs back tears.
"Can we go somewhere private?" I ask. "I promise I will tell you everything."
