Excerpt 2

“Billie, sometimes difficult, unexpected events happen in our lives. They can create confusion for us. A lot of feelings surface, and we’re not sure what to do with them. The feelings can be scary because they’re new, and it takes time to understand them.”

Aunt Beth pauses for a moment, but I can tell by the look on her face that she has more to say to me. Her eyebrows are raised, and she looks as though she is deep in her thoughts. I think she’s deciding what to say next.

“I want to share a very personal and grown-up story with you. Okay?” she says, looking straight into my eyes.

“Okay,” I answer. I’m so curious about what she’s going to tell me that I’m about to burst out of my skin. I feel grown-up when Aunt Beth talks to me.