I am sixteen. My boyfriend is twenty-four. It’s completely legal, and our relationship is healthy, healthier than any of my previous relationships. I support him through his pain, he supports me through mine. I’ve never been so happy.

I met him through a job I had. I lost the job, and we got together about a week after. We’ve been together a month now, and he still works there. People there know who I am, and they know who he is. To avoid all their criticism, we keep our relationship quiet. A lot of them talk about me behind my back even still, so I feel it’s better for him that all these people who don’t like me, don’t know.

Today my best friend went into his workplace, with one of my old friends who I had a falling out with, and my best friend was talking loudly about my relationship. She is one of the few people who know about it, and I’ve mentioned how important keeping it quiet is to me.

While no one else heard besides my boyfriend, who was working, I still feel so betrayed. I cannot wait for him to get off his shift so I can talk to him properly. I just feel so hurt. I always said I would never put my boyfriend first, but I just feel like she broke my trust, and I’m so scared to give it back to her. I worry about the consequences of her doing this again, and trust isn’t something I give easily.