The Charm Offensive

by Alison Cochrun

“I don’t think happily ever after is something that happens to you, Dev. I think it’s something you choose to do for yourself.”

For a moment he’s terrified. While most people responded to his season with an outpouring of love, there are still some dangers to being a queer person who discusses their mental illness on the internet, even for extremely privileged white men like him. He knows Angie and Daphne both had to deal with much worse after the show aired.

They are thirty feet apart, separated by the glossy studio floor and two months of memories and three months of not talking.

“I’m sorry I left without telling you, but I felt like there was no way for you to ever truly choose me, so I chose myself instead.

He kisses Dev with hands and with teeth and with tongue, and Dev kisses him back with I’m sorry and I love you and I promise.

Kissing Charlie is like all the pieces of himself coming together, confident and sure.

Dev knows it’s all stupid—grown adults, playing at fairy tales—but he feels ten years old, watching for the first time.