“I need to tell you something, and it’s something I’ve lived with for a very long time.” This was my moment. This was my Ursula from The Little Mermaid “Poor Unfortunate Souls” solo. (. . . and don’t underestimate the importance of body language.) I’d rehearsed it over and over again, and there was more to it—much more—but suddenly I just wanted to get to the point, so I did. “I’m gay.”

Mom didn’t skip a beat. “Sounds good, baby!”

Dad nodded and gave me a thumbs-up. Not even two thumbs-up!

“I’ll never marry a woman,” I said, like it was a threat.

Dad chuckled. “I think we’d be pretty horrified if you did, son.”

“Me too,” peeped Clem. “I am too.”

Mom smiled at her with a laugh, and then her whole expression went from relaxed and cheerful to shock and confusion as she realized what Clem was saying.

Tears began to roll down Clem’s cheeks and she touched her hands to her face, like she might be able to hide away now that she’d said it out loud.

Mom reached for her wrists and pulled her hands away. “Oh, baby,” she cooed. “My darling girl.” And then Mom began to cry too. “It’ll be okay.”

“Your mother’s right.” Dad cleared his throat, his eyes glistening. Was that a tear? Was that a damn tear? “Wooo, you caught us by surprise there.”

Clem wriggled with discomfort. Even though she was having the moment I’d craved for so long, it was hard to be mad at her right then. She’d seen me cannonball out of the closet, and the moment she saw that the water was just fine, she had to join me too. Besides, if I know my sister, I know she’s precise and thoughtful and economical. Why have two coming-outs when you only need one.

I leaned over and pulled her into my arms. “Trying to steal my spotlight, sis?”

She laughed through her tears and poked me in the side, tickling me. “I could never. Your spotlight is so bright, I’d burn.”

So I guess all that explains why, over the weekend, I had plenty of chances to confront Clem, but none of them felt like the right moment.

By Monday morning, the idea of Clem on the other side of the country is festering inside of me and every possible reason why she would think about doing this without me turns me into a hulking rage monster. She’s jealous of me. She’s tired of living in my shadow. She wants to be her own person. She’s ashamed of me. It all roars inside me.

At school, Clem and I set out on separate paths. Her to Macro Econ and me to Business Math before we reunite for second-period choir.