Forbidden

by Tabitha Suzuma

Her voice has softened slightly. It takes me a moment to figure out why. Then I realize that my left hand has stopped fiddling with the notepad and is now vibrating against the empty page.

I hated that feeling of getting called on in class. The physical response, the nerves, even when my in my head I was thinking this shouldn’t be a big deal - but then when my thoughts realize how my body was reacting - I’d totally spiral mentally.

She grabs her handbag, but not without one last barb thrown over her shoulder. “Lochan, you can accuse me of not being a normal mother the day you start acting like a normal teenager!”

That’s now how it works dumbass.

Out of nowhere a pain rises through my chest and into my throat. I find myself biting down on my lip to stop it from trembling.

This has got to be more than just social anxiety…

“He didn’t kiss me!” I yell, grabbing his arms and trying to shake him back to life. “He tried to, okay, but I didn’t let him! D’you know why? D’you want to know why? D’you really, really want to know why?” Still gripping him with both hands, I lean forward, gasping, as tears, hot and heavy, fall down my cheeks. “This is why. . . .” Crying, I kiss Lochan’s

🫣

At the end of the day, it’s all about how much you can bear, how much you can endure. Being together, we harm nobody; being apart, we extinguish ourselves.

Such sad, dramatic, teenage angst.

“Let’s face it—this is all pretty sick. Maybe the rest of the world’s right. Maybe we’re just a couple of fucked-up, emotionally disturbed teenagers

Yes, sadly, that is what this is…

I’d turned on Maya, as if by blaming her I could absolve myself. . . .

Yep - not that she didn’t have her role - but that’s exactly what you did

the first time in the bright light of day. How amazing to be together like this with the door open, the window open, the curtains fluttering in the breeze!

Ummm…

I reach down and, after what seems an eternity, get it to the right place.

Not the right moment but this totally made me chuckle

This is the dawn of happiness. It all begins now. Then, from the

The moment euphoria turns to utter despair.

doorway, comes a shattering scream.