Hi, my name is Rylie. Rylie Paige Henson. I'm 13 years old, and I'm about to start 7th grade. I was born on October 1, 2045, which makes me a Libra, at least that's what my moms told me.

I have black, curly hair and hazel eyes. I'm about 5'1; the normal height for my age. At least that's what my moms said at my last checkup.

I play on my school's varsity volleyball team, and I'm in the all-girls choir club. People say I'm a natural at both activities. I like to think they're right.

My favorite color has always been pink, but I also love orange. I have two cats and a pet goldfish. I love to read in my spare time, and my favorite book series is "The Starving Games." I love nature and going on hikes during the spring.

I have ten fingers and ten toes, just like everyone else.

I never stood out from the crowd; I've never had a problem fitting in at school. I'm completely normal.

...Well, almost completely normal.

There's only one thing that separates me from everyone else at school: I like boys. And no, not just as friends. I like like boys, the way my moms like each other, and the way my best friend Peyton's dads like each other. I think about this boy Joshua Rodriguez constantly. I think about going on dates with him, holding his hand, and even kissing him!

But, I can't say anything about it.

Having thoughts about the opposite sex is immoral. You see, I live in a world where it's illegal to be attracted to the opposite gender. The Same-Sex Marriage Protection Act was signed into effect in 2030 under President Hedge. Ever since then, marriage is between a man and a man only, or a woman and a woman only.

That's just the way it is. Anything else would be immoral and unheard of. At least, that's what I was taught.

But I can't help it! Josh is everything I could ever want in a boy. He's funny, a great listener, his personality clicks perfectly with mine, he has brown eyes (I'm a sucker for brown eyes), and he plays football. We bonded over our love of sports.

More than anything, I want to be his girlfriend, but that can't happen. The kids at school would make fun of us. I don't even want to think about what would happen if Sadie and Angela (the school's power couple) found out! They would ruin my life forever.

I just don't get why heterosexuality is so "wrong." I mean, love is love, right? Why can't I like who I like without being told I'm wrong?

I like Josh the way my moms like each other. I like Josh the way Mr. Denson (the science teacher) likes Mr. Note (the music teacher). I like Josh the way Sadie likes Angela.

So why am I wrong?