Let's Talk About Love

by Claire Kann

“So you know how some people like jogging?” “I’m one of those people, so yes.” “Ah, yeah, okay. That worked out.” Her breathy laugh sounded forced. “So, you see, I am not one of those people. I don’t care about jogging.” “Mmm…” He squinted at her for a moment. “Somehow, I knew that.” “Oh, great. Good. This is going well.” Her hands began to shake. She pressed her fingers to her lips to steel herself before continuing. “Now take the word jogging and replace it with sex.” “You don’t like sex?” (Wow, he asked that fast.) “No.” She held up her hand. “No, the correct sentence is I don’t care about sex.” She took a deep breath and held it. “Because I’m not sexually attracted to anyone.” Oh shit. Holy shit. Cosmic rainbow-colored unicorn shit. She said it. She came out and she said it. She told him. Dr. Burris had been wrong. It was not her job to be prepared to elucidate or enlighten—it was a kindness. One that she wasn’t 100 percent ready to provide. What if Takumi asked questions? What if he made fun of her? What if he said she was lying or regurgitated any of the other knee-jerk responses she had come to fear? “Huh,” he said, face neutral. “I thought you were bisexual.” “I am. Minus the sexual.” She waited, watching him process through her answer. She waited for the judgment, the questions, the confusion, the thoughtful concern followed by the inevitable interruptions. Second by second, it dawned on her that she waited in vain because he was waiting for her. “My sexuality is ...