The Society of Seconds ii

"The worst part," the girl with the wispy hair declares thoughtfully, "is that I am always a Second in the mind of Others. Or, no." Upon which she pauses for some time. "The truly worst part is that that is a lie."
A contemplative silence falls over the room. In the span of this silence, an imaginary spotlight falls on one boy in the corner, in whose eyes the outline of the speaking girl can always be seen. He shifts uncomfortably.
"It is not impossible for us to be First to someone. It is simply that, if that is the case, they can never be more than Second to us." She waits for this to sink in, which it does at its own dragging pace. An anchor in murky water. "Yes. If someone cares for us deeply, the way we care for our Others, the truth is that we can never return their feelings."
There is a devastating conclusion implied in this statement, and she hesitates to unleash it, but she is halfway there already and she cannot bear the weight of it alone.
"No two people can ever be First to each other. We can only pretend, or remain on our own."