Friends with Secrets

by Christine Gunderson

School-supply shopping was a treasure hunt where you paid $100 to participate and the prize at the end was unfocused anger and a gigantic headache.

“Will you tell me a story about a little girl who goes into the forest and meets a family of talking bunnies and a unicorn?”

She took a step toward him. He reached out, bridging the distance between them, and pulled her into a tight embrace. She melted into his chest, wishing she could graft herself onto him, become physically part of him, so he could never leave again.

“He can’t tell a secret you’ve already told yourself.”

Stripping off her clothes just revealed her body. Now she had to stand in front of these people and expose her soul.