“Is it really that bad?” I ask. “You can’t come out?” “I’d lose everything,” Tucker sighs. “No sports. No friends. I don’t even know what my parents would do. They’d probably move just to get away from the shame, which means I wouldn’t just be ruining my life, but theirs, too. My family’s lived in Eaton Falls for generations. Our land is everything to them. I couldn’t do that. Not now. Not when I’m so exposed. I can wait. College isn’t far off. Next year at this time, my life will be different. I’ll be on my own. My parents can make up some story as to why I never come home. No one in town
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