Mysterious Skin: A Novel

by Scott Heim

I tried telepathy one final time. I didn’t care about its foolishness. I zeroed my mind on theirs, hoping Neil and Brian would hear, just this once. I love you both.

“Why now?” Neil asked. “Why do you need this now? Why did you search me out?” “I’m tired of it,” I said. “I want to dream about something else for a change.”

Neil would have to tell his story. Before he even opened his wounded mouth I knew what he would say. I knew it as conclusively as I knew my family, my self,