Page 45 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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I let out a long sigh

in place of an answer.

I turn my head to Matt,

but he stares straight ahead

and we walk this long corridor

side by side, in silence.

“This is a nightmare, Kai.”

He finally looks at me

with tears welling in his eyes.

I wanna hug him, but I know

even though this corridor is empty,

Matt will pull away from me.

“This isn’t such a big deal, Matt.

There are four

out and proud

queer people in our year.”

“It’s different for them,” Matt sneers.

“Why?” I ask, but I know.

“Because they’re white,

like your precious Nick and Charlie.”

There it is. It’s clear to me

Matt and I see the world differently.

We may even be in parallel worlds.

We may walk side by side,

but I can’t walk in Matt’s shoes

and he can’t walk in mine.

Friday: Boyfriends—Lunch Hall

It’s fish and chips Friday

in our school cafeteria:

the batter here is even better

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