I told her I was in pain.
She said, "It's your fault;
you're letting them get to you."
I laughed.
I waited a while, hoping it would stop.
That maybe the teasing words,
and snarky comments would end.
They didn't.
I told her I was in pain.
She said, "Why do you let them
bother you so much?"
I was silent.
Then I was not.
"When you've been searching
your whole life for a place to fit in
yet you can't even find that place
online, it hurts.
It hurts like hell."
I told her I was in pain.
She hugged me tight.
"I don't like it when
you're hurting, Lizard."
"I know," I said.
