Before we collide (ENGLISH VERSION)

4. - Lesbian? Why would I be a lesbian?

— Well! — my mother intervened again in an attempt to change the subject, — So how are you doing, Nora? Any guys out there you haven't told us about?

I immediately felt the lemonade go from my mouth up straight to my nose. My father, like me, was surprised by the question and immediately lowered the newspaper to catch my mother's eye.

—Marie Ann! But what are you saying? She is only 22 years old. — My father mentioned, shaking his head, as if the mere idea of thinking about me bringing a boy home was something reprehensible.

— Oh please, Sean, don't be so dramatic. Or do I have to remind you that you and I got married at 24 and had Nora at 25? — my mother defended herself.

I was stunned, still trying to catch my breath after almost choking on the lemonade. My father grimaced, he hated that he couldn't argue anything back to win an argument, but his wife was right.

— Mhm, right, I guess you're right. — he murmured without further ado. My mother had left him defenseless, so he was left speechless.

Immediately afterward, my mother looked at me sharply, still waiting for a response from me.

I considered whether to lie about having a secret boyfriend who lives in the mountains in Sweden and visits me occasionally, but the idea seemed completely absurd and not believable, so I dismissed it.

—Well, Nora? Do you have any cute guy that you're seeing at the moment? — My mother asked sweetly as if it weren't an intimate and embarrassing question.

— I don't have a boyfriend, mom. — I answered her question with a shrug.

— Don't pressure her, Marie Ann, after all, it's better for her to look for a job than to look for a boyfriend. — My father replied as he began to eat.

— I know, I know. It's just that lately I was thinking about how she's never brought any boys home, I was wondering when it would happen...

— Mom! Oh my God. — I replied, cutting off her sentence before she could continue with another word. I couldn't let this conversation go any further.

The very idea of bringing a man to the house seemed alien to me. I struggle to make friends like a normal person, and my mother expected me to bring a man home! Just crazy.

— Well, well, I'm just saying that I would like to see you with a handsome boy coming through the house. — she shrugged.

— Although now that I think about it, you're right. — my father added to my mother's arguments. — Nora has never brought a boy home. — he turned sharply towards me, — You're not a lesbian, are you? — he asked, looking at me seriously, frowning.

I swallowed. His question made me freeze, my eyes widening. I had no escape from this one.

My father was right, I had never brought any boy home to meet my parents.

I suddenly thought about my years as a student, and I remembered how I was always immersed in my books and essays, while also working for the newspaper where I am now. Maybe some guy seemed cute to me, but I never had a serious relationship with anyone. I never stopped to think much about it. The truth was that I never felt the need to look for a boyfriend. I didn't really know why, but I guess my priorities were with college and my future, which took away my time for dating. Yeah, that had to be it.

— Lesbian? Why would I be a lesbian? — I spat out my words, uncomfortable with the situation.

— Well, you've never had a boyfriend, and here in this neighborhood where everyone talks about everyone, I've never heard a single rumor about you dating someone. — my father added. — The only person you've gone out with and spent nights at her house having sleepovers with is Grace. — he pointed out.