“Why?” Jen said, her face so covered with tears that I could’ve sworn her cheeks were made of water. “Why would I possibly make that up?”

“I don’t know – you just are!” I stomped my foot as a visual exclamation mark. “You have to be.”

“Have I ever once lied to you?” She asked. I shook my head. “In an entire decade?” I shook my head again. “Why would I start now?”

“Because my heart is breaking.”

“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you,” she whispered. “I was doing some report for school, and I found this old newspaper clipping -. I didn’t want to tell you. I knew how much it would hurt.”

I suddenly realized how much it hurt. How much it must have hurt for her to find out, all on her own. How it must have burned inside her, not being able to share it with anyone, not even especially not even the best friend she’d told everything else to. All the emotions bubbled up inside me until I couldn’t contain them. I needed my best friend, and she needed me. I ran across the room and embraced her.