Page 24 of I Wish You All the Best

“Thank you.”

“It’s what I’m here for. Do you want to go through the forms?”

“If we’ve got time?”

“Sure. We can review them while we talk.”

It’s a lot. There are some things that are simple or self-explanatory, but there’s even more that I don’t understand. Then Dr. Taylor says, “So are you out to your sister?”

“Oh, um …” I flip through the next page and read briefly over what it says, sign my initials where Dr. Taylor tells me it’s needed.

“We don’t have to talk about it.”

I try to breathe. “I mean, I’m out. To her. And to Thomas. I sort of had to be, didn’t I?” I try to laugh, but even to my own ears it sounds forced.

“Are you comfortable with that?”

“I have to be, don’t I?”

“No. Of course, circumstances were out of your hands. I know in this scenario, telling them why you’d been forced out of your home was the easiest option, and maybe the only one. But that doesn’t mean you have to like it.”

“They’re trying. Hannah and Thomas correct themselves when they use the wrong pronouns.”

“That’s good. And what about at school? Are you adjusting easily?”

“I mean, it’s school. I’m not out, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Uh-huh.” Dr. Taylor clicks her pen and adds that to her notes. “Do you want to talk about that?”

“Nothing to really talk about.”

“You think so?”

“Doesn’t exactly feel safe.”

“That’s a fair point.” There’s this shine in her eyes, and I expect her to fight me on that, but she doesn’t.

“But?” I say.

“No ‘but.’ Have you met anyone at your new school? Any new friends?”

“No.”

“Really? That’s a shame. No one at all?”

“No,” I repeat. “No one.” We’ve reached the last of the forms. I read over it quickly before I sign my name. Dr. Taylor flips through all of them one more time before she gathers them all up.

“Was there anything else you wanted to tell me?”

“Like?”

She shrugs. “Anything you feel that may help me know you better. Or anything specific you’ve been dealing with?”

“I don’t think so.” There’s Mariam, but that feels like a private thing, something I don’t need to share here. Not right now, at least.

“Okay.” Dr. Taylor stands up, tossing her notepad on her desk.

“Okay?” My eyes follow her all the way to her desk. “Is that all?”