Page 48 of Talk to Me

“So, tell us your name and what you’re studying at Midway University,” Theo said.

“Um, well, I’m…I don’t have to say my last name, do I?” the girl asked.

“Not if you don’t want to,” Theo replied.

“Okay. I’m Kylie and I’m studying English at Midway. Go Mountain Lions!” Kylie replied.

Theo laughed.

“So…what’s something you want people to know about you, Kylie?”

“I don’t know,” Kylie said. “I guess I didn’t think about this first.”

“Anything you want to say is fine,” Theo said.

“Um, well,” Kylie mumbled, “They really need tampon machines in the girls’ bathrooms at Midway!”

I swiped my thumb on the screen.

“Okay, Malik. What do you want everyone to know?” Theo said.

“There are not nearly enough vegetarian options in the dining hall,” Malik said. “Midway University needs to have better dining options for all of its students.”

I chuckled and swiped again.

“My name is Maya. I’m studying business here at Midway,” the girl said.

“Hi, Maya. What do you want everyone to know about you?” Theo asked.

“Well, I…”

Maya looked down, away from the camera.

“You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to,” Theo said, offscreen. “But you can also say anything you want. This is a safe space. And I won’t post the video unless you say I can.”

I found that odd, since everyone Theo had made videos of had specifically stopped him and asked to be on his channel. However, I was glad he was making a safe space for everyone who might simply want someone to talk to about something.

“No. No. I want you to post this,” Maya said.

“Okay,” Theo said. “Take your time. Talk to me when you feel ready.”

Maya took a deep breath, stared down a little bit longer, then looked back up at the camera.

“I haven’t told my parents yet. But all of my friends know. I’m…gay. A lesbian,” Maya said. “And I’m worried that they’ll stop loving me. That’s all.”

Maya looked down again, chewing at her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. Theo kept the camera on her, silent for a moment.

“Well,” he said, finally, “welcome to the community. I’m proud of you for saying that out loud. I’m going to turn the video off and hug you. If you want?”

Maya gave a small smile and nodded.

The video ended.

I swiped my thumb across the screen. Some of the videos were short. Some long. But everyone who had asked Theo to put them on his channel had something to say.

“I’m Clark Rafferty and I’m studying economics at Midway University. Go Mountain Lions! Woot!”

Theo laughed. “Okay, Clark. What do you have to say?”