Halfway into our date we talk about art and artists. You bring up how so many of them struggled with mental illness.
I quietly respond "maybe it's because we see the world in a different way."
You say "what?"
And my world pauses because I was not expecting you to catch on to the word "we". I dropped the hint about being mentally and I immediately regret it.
In eye contact and a blink I realize I mumbled and you didn't hear me. So I repeat "maybe it's because we see the world in a different way." And instead of waiting to see if you caught on to my hint, I full come out with my mental health.
And the conversation continues. And you don't look at me differently. And you still want to know more of me. And you don't run from my mind like I sometimes wish I could.