“Oh, stop,” Aunt Lil says, getting up and collecting the dishes. “August, you have a very sweet friend here.”

I smile at Juliet. “I agree.”

“Well, she’s invited over anytime.” Aunt Lil hugs me and it feels like home. “I’ll be in my studio if you need me.”

“You’re my forever favorite aunt,” I say. Aunt Lil heads upstairs, and I sit down with Juliet. “Thank you for calling Hugo. That saved me.”

“I was worried about you. Your parents aren’t the most affirming people in your life.”

I nod, struggling to find the words, too upset to cry. “They will never accept me,” I say. Juliet shakes her head, like she knew that already. “They think I’m broken.”

“You aren’t. You know that, right?”

“Things got dark before Hugo showed up. I was thinking of hurting myself.”

“I’ve thought about it, too,” she says. “In the hard times, when my life felt out of control, I thought at least I could have control over that.” A tear goes down her cheek.

“That’s how it felt,” I say.

“I understand, August, I do. But that would leave the world empty of your light. And you have such a bright light. You have so much ahead of you—it’s so obvious. We need you here.”

I bury my face in my hands. “I went looking for my truth, and my truth is so sad. Nothing like what I show online or walking down the hall.”

She pets my head. “Your parents aren’t going to accept you, and now you must accept that. But it doesn’t define you. That’s not who you are.”

“I don’t know who I am,” I say, tired of the Infamous and the Famous August Greene.

“I can imagine,” she says. “Your life has been moving so fast. No time to process anything and work through the grief of your parents.”

“How do you have it figured out?” I ask.

“Oh, I don’t, August. Does anyone? My story is different from yours. When I transitioned, my parents were supportive, and my friends were, too. Everyone was so happy for me. But all their support and love didn’t make me feel less alone. Then I became too self-conscious to act. I retreated to quiet art rooms where I felt safe. But I was isolating, and I knew it.”

“What did you do?” I ask.