Leo stood outside the pharmacy for ten minutes, adjusting the straps of his backpack until his shoulders ached. He was fourteen, and every person walking past felt like a undercover judge. Inside, the air smelled of peppermint and antiseptic.
"That’ll be twelve-fifty," the cashier said, her voice flat and bored.
He walked to the back aisle, his sneakers squeaking against the linoleum. There they were. The boxes were bright, clinical, and intimidating. He picked up a pack, his hands feeling clumsily large, and stared at the price tag as if he were deeply interested in the economy of latex. "Need help finding a size?"
"Have a good one," she muttered, already looking at the person behind him.
When it was his turn, he placed the items on the counter. He didn't look up. He expected a lecture, a phone call to his parents, or at least a laugh. The cashier scanned the pretzels. Beep. Then the condoms. Beep.
Leo stood outside the pharmacy for ten minutes, adjusting the straps of his backpack until his shoulders ached. He was fourteen, and every person walking past felt like a undercover judge. Inside, the air smelled of peppermint and antiseptic.
"That’ll be twelve-fifty," the cashier said, her voice flat and bored.
He walked to the back aisle, his sneakers squeaking against the linoleum. There they were. The boxes were bright, clinical, and intimidating. He picked up a pack, his hands feeling clumsily large, and stared at the price tag as if he were deeply interested in the economy of latex. "Need help finding a size?"
"Have a good one," she muttered, already looking at the person behind him.
When it was his turn, he placed the items on the counter. He didn't look up. He expected a lecture, a phone call to his parents, or at least a laugh. The cashier scanned the pretzels. Beep. Then the condoms. Beep.