Before You Let Go
Caelan sat beside me, close enough that our shoulders touched.
For a while, we listened to the soft hum of the refrigerators and the faint traffic outside.
Then I blurted, “Do you think good people sometimes have to do bad things?”
Caelan looked at me. “Did you cheat on a quiz?”
“I do not cheat on quizzes.”
He laughed, and the sound loosened something in my chest.
“I’m serious,” I said, shoving his arm.
“I know.” His smile faded. “I think people do what they think they have to do. Good, bad… minsan hindi ganun kalinis.”