Unknown Lesbian - - - -

Unknown Lesbian
Leyla had always been curious about the world around her. At thirteen, life felt like a swirl of laughter, lessons, and endless questions that whispered in the corners of her mind. She loved running barefoot with the boys in her neighborhood, kicking the ball across dusty streets, yet she also cherished the quiet moments with her best friend, Sania, when they shared secrets beneath the old mango tree.
Something about Sania made her chest tighten in ways Leyla couldn’t name. And then there were the boys—her classmates, her neighbors—whose smiles could make her heart flutter just as much. The feelings tangled together inside her like vines, twisting and pulling, leaving Leyla bewildered. She didn’t understand why she could care so deeply for both boys and girls. Was there something wrong with her?
At school, Leyla found herself watching Sania more than anyone else. She noticed the way Sania tucked her hair behind her ear, the soft laugh that always seemed to reach her, the way her eyes sparkled when she told a story. It was thrilling and frightening all at once. And yet, the sight of David, a boy in her class, could make her stomach flutter too, leaving her even more confused.
One afternoon, walking home with her backpack bouncing against her shoulders, Leyla overheard older girls giggling about someone “being weird” because she liked girls. A chill ran through Leyla’s body. Could people really see her like that? Could she even understand herself? She squeezed her fists and quickened her pace, wishing she could tuck away the feelings in a hidden corner of her mind where no one could find them.
At home, Leyla tried to distract herself with homework and chores, but the questions lingered. She wanted answers she didn’t have yet. She wanted someone to tell her it was okay to feel this way, even if the world might not understand.
Later that evening, she found herself staring out of her bedroom window, watching the fading sunlight streak across the sky. Sania’s laughter from earlier that day echoed in her mind, making her heart ache in ways Leyla still didn’t fully grasp.
Leyla wondered: Was she alone in feeling this? Was it possible to care for both boys and girls without feeling wrong?
Her thoughts swirled endlessly, unanswered, and Leyla realized that this was only the beginning.