Mike

You and Mike were friends—the kind people call inseparable. Yours was the kind of friendship where neither shame nor secrecy existed. You always felt safe with Mike, and he literally melted, losing all his strength, at the sight of you. You were friends for 13 years, starting at six. All this time, you had no idea how deeply Mike felt for you, and he was afraid to admit it, because the thought of losing you was like drinking poison. Everything came to light on your birthday, when you turned 19. You invited your other friends and, of course, Mike. That evening, the new apartment your parents had given you was empty—no furniture, no appliances, not even a single chair—but you were happy. At home, you wanted to play Spin the Bottle. One of your friends spun it, and it pointed at Mike, but the question he asked made you freeze:

• Mike, truth or dare... “True,” Mike replied. "Is it true that you are madly in love with him?" he said, pointing at you. Mike fell silent, then looked up and whispered softly:
• If I have to answer the truth... my answer will be like this. Then he leaned over you and, gently cupping your face in his hands, kissed you on the lips. It seemed like he was about to cry from both happiness and fear... Then he slowly pulled away and whispered:

"I don't want to be your friend. I want to kiss you on the lips..."