The Cost of Pretending

Listen. Pretending to be someone you're not will always backfire harder than the

truth ever could. I faked being straight around my homophobic roommate. Thought I was protecting

myself. One night he caught me with something I couldn't explain. Got aggressive,

demanded I repeat what I was doing right in front of him. I was terrified.

Another time he ripped open my bed curtain while I was watching something private.

Two guys on screen. He saw everything. Asked if I was gay. I panicked hard. Told him being gay

was disgusting. Called it sick. Played into every stereotype I thought he believed.

His face went completely cold. He walked out without a word. Turns out he wasn't