Things You Said While I Was Crying
There are so many things Pearl wants to say right now. But she can’t, not with Trucy in her lap, crying her eyes out.
All she can do is hold her, and rub her back gently.
“It’s not fair.” Trucy whispers, “None of this is fair.”
Pearl says, “Do you want to talk about it? You don’t have to, of course.”
Trucy rubs her eyes, “I hate them, Pearly. I never want to go back to school, I can’t ever let them see me again.”
Pearl hums quietly, and holds Trucy close to her.
“Does Mr. Nick know you’re here?” Pearl says after a bit.
Trucy shakes her head, “You’re the only one who knows. As soon as school ended, I came right here.”
-
Pearl couldn’t sleep. She felt uneasy, like something bad was about to happen. She sat up in bed and sighed. Trucy had called her earlier, sounding nervous, but she hadn’t explained herself at all.
“I hope she’s okay…”
A tap on her window startled her, and she stood up, pushing open the window.
“P-Pearly? Can I come in?”
Pearl gasped. Trucy was outside, shivering in the cold, her eyes redder than the sun.
“Of course!’ Pearl said, reaching through, grabbing her friend’s hand, “What’s going on?”
-
Trucy says, “I can’t ever go back. If they see me again, they’ll hurt me. T-They say the most awful things…”
Pearl whispers, “Who cares what they say? You’re completely wonderful, just the way you are.”
Trucy sniffles, “You really think so?”
“I know so.” Pearl insists, “In fact, I don’t know what I’d do without you. Trucy, you make me so happy.”
Trucy opens her arms, and grips Pearl tightly, her tears soaking Pearl’s clothes.
“T-Thank you… I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
-
“Pearly? Are you alone?”
Pearl looked around, and whispered into the phone, “I am. What’s going on?”
Trucy’s voice shook, “Y-You know how we said… We said that we’d g-go public with our relationship?”
Pearl said, “I remember. Did something-”
Trucy cut her off, “Yes.”
-
Pearl whispers, “Do you mind telling me exactly what happened?”
Trucy sighs, “One of the kids at school… Saw that photo of you I put in my locker. They… They asked who you were, and I said you were my girlfriend and…” She breaks off, unable to speak anymore
Pearl squeezes her gently, “Don’t ever listen to them. You are who you are, and you should never let them hurt you.”
Trucy smiles for the first time that night, “Pearly, you’re so kind. What did I ever do to deserve you?”
Pearl smiles back.
-
It’s early morning when Maya pushes her way into Pearl’s room. She’s already prepared her speech, but all of that goes out the window when she opens the door.
Trucy and Pearl are asleep in each others arms.
Maya lets out a sigh of relief, and pulls out her cell phone. She punches in a number quickly.
“Maya? Did you-”
Maya smiles, “She’s in Kurain. I don’t know how she got her, but I bet my topknot that Pearly knows.”
She’s okay.