The Sphinx at Home Plate

The cable cut out again. Third time this week, right as Maya's stream was blowing up. She stared at the frozen chat, her face mid-laugh, stuck in that awkward moment where she'd just roasted Jason about his baseball cap collection.

"Bro, this is actually tragic," she muttered, tossing her phone onto her bed. Her goldfish, Neptune, swam lazily in his bowl on the desk, probably judging her life choices.

Maya's mom yelled from downstairs. "Maya! Your cousin's baseball game is on! Come watch!"

She groaned. Baseball? Really? But the cable being down meant no streaming, which meant no escape from her own spiraling thoughts about whether she'd accidentally come out to her entire chat before she was ready to even come out to herself.

The living room TV was massive, the game blaring. Her cousin Leo stepped up to home plate, looking terrified. The other team's pitcher stared him down like he was some kind of sphinx, posing an impossible riddle in the form of a fastball.

"He's gonna strike out," Maya predicted, dropping onto the couch.

"Give him a chance," her mom said, but Leo did strike out. Swung and missed, looking like he'd never held a bat in his life.

But then Leo looked up at the stands, right where Maya's aunt was screaming her head off, and something weird happened. He smiled. Like, actually smiled, not the fake one he used at family dinners when everyone asked about college applications.

"You know," her mom said suddenly, "I saw something on your computer the other day. Those... rainbow emojis?"

Maya's heart stopped. "Oh. Yeah. They're just... trendy."

"Your friend Sarah uses them too," her mom continued casually. "She seems really happy lately."

Maya blinked. Her mom knew. Her mom definitely knew. And she wasn't freaking out.

On screen, Leo got another chance. This time, he connected. The ball sailed into left field, and he took off running like his life depended on it. Safe at first base, grinning like he'd just solved the sphinx's riddle.

"You know what?" Maya said, something loosening in her chest. "I think I'm gonna go talk to Sarah. She invited me to this thing tonight."

"Have fun," her mom called as Maya grabbed her phone. "And sweetie? Your goldfish looks lonely. Maybe get him a friend?"

Maya paused. Her mom knew everything. And somehow, that wasn't terrifying anymore.

"Actually," she said, "I think I might."