I Wish You All the Best

by Mason Deaver

Too bad I don’t feel very jolly right now. Maybe I should’ve donned some more “gay apparel” to lighten the mood.

If you’re queer, your life has the potential to become one long coming-out moment. If I ever want to be called the right pronouns, I’ll have to correct people and put myself out there first and who knows what could happen.

“My vote was for Godzilla Attack, but that was shelved pretty fast.”

It’s like Thomas, Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Kurtz got together to see what would lead to the quickest emotional breakdown from me. Joke’s on them, because I already know it won’t take much.

“Have I ever told you how helpful you are?” I ask. “No.” “Good, because you aren’t.”

“Can’t spell ‘subtext’ without ‘butt sex.’”

“I mean, I’m not like the head of the nonbinary committee or anything.” Hannah huffs. “Well, I know that.” “We’re not a committee anyway. More of a cult.” I laugh at my own joke.

“The goal of every queer person is the extermination of the cis, straight, allosexual people.” “So that’s the gay agenda?

“Whatever happens”—his grip tightens a little—“I wish you all the best, Benjamin De Backer.” He says it with a smile. “You deserve it.”

He doesn’t react at first, then slowly but surely, his mouth spreads into that all-too-familiar grin that I think I’ve fallen in love with. I never want him to stop smiling.

Sophie rolls her eyes. “Oh God, Ben, this was a mistake. His ego’s already too big.” “We’ll talk about it when your portrait hangs in an art gallery.”

“Don’t ignore the problems,” he says. “Learn from them. But also, don’t knock what you get right. Every success deserves a celebration.”

Meleika and Sophie found Nathan, and all three of them look like they’re ready to actually brawl or something. Hell, Sophie’s even got her heels in her hands, ready to go.

The way he looks at me, it’s as serious as I’ve ever seen him. “That’s not what’s going to happen. Why would you think I’d want to lose you like that?”

“I wish you all the best, Benjamin De Backer.” They aren’t the same words, but I know exactly what he means. “I love you too.”