The Sphinx's Teddy Bear

My online persona was legendary. They called me sphinx in the group chat — mysterious, unreadable, dropping cryptic messages at 2 AM while everyone else poured their hearts out. I curated mystery like it was my job. Meanwhile, I was seventeen and still sleeping with a stuffed bear named Barnaby.

"You're so enigmatic," Maya told me between classes, flipping her perfect hair. "Like, are you even into anyone?"

I shrugged, sphinx-like. Whatever that meant.

The truth? I was terrified. Everyone was posting their crush lists, their coming-out stories, their bold declarations of identity. Meanwhile, I couldn't even figure out if I was gay, straight, or just hopelessly confused. So I hid behind my riddle-act and changed the subject.

Then came the night of Jordan's party. Someone brought truth or dare back, and naturally, I got dared.

"Reveal something real about yourself," said Sarah, Jordan's friend who'd been giving me looks all night. "No riddles. Just one real thing."

The room went quiet. I could feel my heart hammering against my ribs. I could walk away, maintain the mystique, keep playing the sphinx. But something cracked.

"I still sleep with a teddy bear," I blurted. "His name is Barnaby and he's literally falling apart and I can't, like, bear to get rid of him."

Silence. Then someone snorted. Then Jordan was full-on laughing, but not mean-laughing. "Dude, same. I have this stuffed narwhal from when I was six. His name's Captain Whaler."

Suddenly everyone was sharing their embarrassing secrets. Maya still watched Hannah Montana reruns when she was sad. Sarah slept with a nightlight because she was scared of the dark. The sphinx had crumbled, but something better had taken its place.

Later, sitting on Jordan's porch steps, Sarah sat beside me. "You know," she said, "I liked the riddles. But I like you better."

Barnaby was waiting on my bed when I got home. I picked him up, his fur matted and one eye loose. "Well, buddy," I whispered. "Think I'm finally figuring this out."

I didn't have to be a sphinx anymore. I just had to be me — bear, secrets, and all.