The Gentle One

By Desiree Kannel

You were the gentle one. The one we could always count on, go to, and trust. But now we say that we did not know of the suffering you pushed down, hid, dismissed.

When the news reporters came asking for an explanation, we flinched and said the first thing that came to mind.

No idea.

Out of the blue.

Completely!

Let’s be generous and say that, at the time, we really believed it.

Later—weeks, not days—we’ll huddle together at the coffee shop we used to go to and struggle to talk about anything but you when one of us will remember that time you called us together (very unusual!) for something but then someone else’s latest break-up hi-jacked the conversation, and not until after that was talked-out did we turn to you and asked: Now what did you want to talk to us about?

“I forgot,” you said with a smile and a shrugged.

We smiled and shrugged too, then carried on as usual.

One of us will then say: I don’t remember that.

But we did, or will, and later that night all the other moments will cycle through our minds like a Tennessee Williams play.

The next morning, the group text will ping: We should have known.

A few of us will text back yellow heart emojis, and that will be the end of it.

Our absolution.

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Desiree is an author and educator from San Antonio, Texas. She is the founder and faciltator of Rose Writers Workshops and leads creative writing workshops for youth, adults, and in partnership with various nonprofits. She is the author of Lucky John (2020) and The Delany Bennets (2023) and several short stories. Follow Desiree on Instagram @RWcreativewtg