“It felt odd. My cousin has Down’s Syndrome, and I don’t think anyone expected it or knew to teach him about puberty. That wasn’t my responsibility either. It was never talked about again. It’s weird when a decade or more later when family conflicts come up, those are more important and talked about. Those conflicts are so small in comparison. I still see my cousin. That’s family, but I don’t like being alone with him.

It’s weird seeing him so accomplished and doing well. My family celebrates that, and it should be celebrated, right? Yeah, it should. But he’s always gonna be the cousin that kept body slamming me on the couch with a boner while we were alone.”