Kevin wiped the sweat from his brow, leaning on the handle of the shovel as he surveyed the shallow trenches he’d dug to redirect water from the foundation. Jordan, his friend’s 16 year old son, stood a few feet away, brushing dirt from his hands and trying to look casual. Kevin could still sense the hesitation in Jordan's movements, the carefulness in his glances. “Thanks for helping out, man,” Kevin said, stretching his...

I had been talking to him online for a few days, and something about the way he typed—careful, hesitant, a little shy—made me curious. He said he’d never done anything like this before, but there was a spark in his words that told me he was interested. I kept it casual, teasing him lightly, nudging him toward the idea of coming over. Eventually, he agreed, nervously confirming the time. When the doorbell rang, I was alrea...

I stepped carefully across the sun-warmed grass at the back of the property, my long blue dress swaying lightly with each step. The umbrella I held in one hand shaded me from the sun, but I barely noticed it—I was too curious about the rickety shack up ahead. I’d seen the men working on something all morning, moving cotton and tools around, but I had no idea what exactly they were up to. As I got closer, I noticed them. S...