But.......
To their surprise, it was Tyler's younger sister, Lily.
"What are you guys doing out here?" she asked, looking at them curiously.
Tyler and Jason exchanged a nervous glance, not sure what to say. They had always been close with Lily, but they had never talked to her about their relationship. They didn't know if they could trust her.
"We're just hanging out," Tyler said, trying to play it cool.
Lily looked at them intently for a moment, and then a look of understanding dawned on her face. "Oh, I get it," she said with a smile. "You guys are dating, aren't you?"
Tyler and Jason were stunned. They had never expected Lily to figure it out, let alone be okay with it.
"Yeah, we are," Jason said, feeling a weight lifting off his shoulders. "But we have to keep it a secret, okay? Our parents don't approve."
Lily nodded solemnly. "I won't tell anyone," she promised. "But I think it's really brave of you guys to be together, even when it's hard."
Tyler and Jason smiled at each other, feeling a newfound sense of hope. Maybe they didn't have to hide their relationship forever. Maybe someday they could come out and be themselves, without fear of judgment or rejection.
For now, though, they were content to have each other, and the secret love that they shared. And with Lily's acceptance, they knew that they had at least one ally in a world that could be so cold and unwelcoming.
