The Rainbow Patch

Chapter 3

“In elementary school, I was just like you. I had just moved, because of some family stuff, when I met Valentine, she was really nice.” She ignored my disbelieving snort. “She was! Until we got to middle school, and I came out.”

“Waitwaitwaitwait.” I interrupted. “You did what now?”

“I. Came. Out. I thought you had figured it out by now.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m gay.”

I froze. Emily’s gay? This. Is. Amazing.

“Uh, hello? I just shared the biggest secret of my life with you. Some kind of reception would be nice.”

I laughed nervously. “Sorry, I’m just...happy. Really, really happy.”

Emily shrugged, then continued.

“A few days, after I came out, she started completely ignoring me. She wouldn't talk to me, or even look at me. Probably thought that the gayness was contagious or something. Eventually, I gave up trying to get her to talk to me. I guess I knew that she would never accept me, no matter what I did. She did notice me eventually, though. Just not in a good way.” Emily shuddered, and I squeezed her hand.

“I started getting notes in my locker. Terrible notes. I couldn't tell anyone, because I didn't have proof that it was Valentine, only that I knew it was her. So I put up with it. All through eighth grade. Day after day of notes, telling me that I was disgusting, that nobody would ever love me, and...that I should kill myself.” I tensed. Notes telling her that she should kill herself? Emily continued.

“After graduation, she cornered me with a bunch of her minions. They started hitting me, and wouldn't stop until a teacher finally arrived. I had to go to the hospital.” She showed me a jumble of faint scars on her chin and down her neck.

“It took forever to heal them. I could barely move my neck.” She paused, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “All through Freshman and Sophomore year, she did nothing to me. No taunts, no notes, no fights. Then Junior year started, and I got a girlfriend. Her name was Rory. Suddenly, the notes started again, even worse than before. But not just to me. She sent them to Rory too. She-” Her voice broke.

“She couldn't take it. After about two months, she killed herself.”

She said it with such abruptness, I didn't move for a moment. The tears on Emily’s face brought me back to reality. I hugged her tight, not caring that she was soaking my shirt with tears, or that we had moved onto a part of the wall that had a remainder of slush on it on it, so now my jeans were soaked. When Emily's tears finally dried up, she looked at me, then at my shirt. She gave me a watery smile. “Sorry.” I smiled back, then for some inexplicable reason, kissed her.