He took it like I was trying to create some privacy for us, but in truth, I was stalling for time. Often, he would bring up “problems” that were just attempts to get attention.Īfter a few minutes, we rounded the track past the handball courts and came up to a row of picnic benches on the south side of the Yard. I remembered that Michael had a reputation in our circle of friends for being overly dramatic. I knew just about everybody on the Yard, and I was skeptical of his claim of abuse. He’s pressuring me to have sex with him.” “There’s a guy in my building that won’t leave me alone. “Come on man,” I responded, with a lightness that I hoped hid the nervousness I felt. I wondered if he had the same feeling I had, that any verbal misstep could end in disaster. He said it matter-of-factly, but when I looked at him to see if he was joking, his shoulders were slumped, his head down, his eyes focused on the track immediately in front of him. “I’m going to kill myself,” Michael said.
