Pretty soon, Lydia and I were in a আরো than বন্ধু relationship. On the evening of our first date, I was so nervous. I dressed the best that I could. When I went to her house to pick her up, she said, "Leonard, darling, that's very sweet, but আপনি don't need to dress up." I said, "I don't." She said, "No. I'm fine with casual dress for dates." I said, "My সেকেন্ড girlfriend didn't feel that way." Lydia said, "She didn't deserve you." I began to open up to Lydia even আরো during our date. She asked me, "Why are আপনি so much older than our classmates?" I said, "I started school a little late, and I was held back in kindergarten for crying too much." She said, "Aw! So you're the sensitive type?" I said, "Yeah." She said, "That's okay. I can be sensitive, too. I was held back in kindergarten for the same reason." I opened up to her আরো since that date. I told her about the loss of my sister and about self-harm, and she didn't judge. I later told her about being bisexual. Lydia said, "It's okay. I'm bisexual, too." I said, "I was afraid to tell you, because my first girlfriend dumped me after learning I was bisexual." Lydia said, "That girl didn't know what she was doing." I said, "Thanks, Lydia. You're the best."

TO BE CONTINUED