Audre & Bash Are Just Friends

by Tia Williams

“He’s beautiful, Sparrow, but he’s also just a boy. Not to be gender normative, but have you met a boy? There’s no reason to be intimidated by one.” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “They barely have a coherent thought in their heads.”

“Everything changes. Nothing’ll be the same a year from now. But my tats will. They’re like reminders of things I loved once. Even just for a day.”

Ever heard of golden child syndrome, Mom? How about parentified child syndrome? Well, I have both. It’s an adultlike need to always be perfect. To never be a problem. To not cause chaos. To parent your actual parents. And guess what, Mom? When kids live under that kind of pressure, they usually end up suffering a mental breakdown, an ulcer, or both. So, thanks for that.

“Maybe every run before this one was practice. So that I could be fast enough to catch you before you went home.”