"You can call me Michael."

I’ve said that phrase a countless number of times. I figured it was time to stop lying to myself and everyone around me.

It’s just that the name Michael invokes so many emotions.

Power. Strength. Agility.

It’s from the Hebrew language and means god-like. What could be better?

I hate to lie to everyone about my real name. The only person that ever uses it is Madeline. In fact, it has become my codename. It’s a reminder to me every time I’m called into Section. ‘Stay in line,’ it silently implies, ‘or your real name will be revealed.’

People think that Madeline uses Nikita to control me. In fact, Madeline could never be that cruel. She uses the threat of revealing my name. Something I can never let happen.

I can’t help but imagine what Nikita would say if she found out. Would she be outraged that I never told her my real name? Would she pity me for being stuck with something so horrible? Would she leave because she couldn’t love someone with a name like mine?

All of these thoughts horrify me. That is why no one can ever know my name. That is why everyone needs to know my name. Confusing, huh? I can’t quite make sense of it myself. I just know that I can’t live with this lie anymore.

My parents thought they were being funny when they named me. Isn’t it bad enough to be French? I have to have a horrible name, too?

So, I’m forced to live every day in a lie. I lie to myself, I lie to my friends, and I lie to the person I love the most in the world. It’s time for the farce to end.

I finally got the courage to pick up the phone and call Nikita. Never mind that it’s two o’clock in the morning. She’ll be there.

"Hullo?" Nikita answered huskily.

"Ni-ki-ta," I answered back. She immediately picked up on the fact that I didn’t call her Josephine.

"Michael? What’s wrong?" she asked, worry laced through her voice.

"Boone. My name is really Boone," I finally answered. I dreaded her response.

"What?" she asked, completely confused.

"My name isn’t really Michael. It’s Boone," I clarified. I could just imagine her face.

"Okay, whatever you say. Goodnight, Boone," she responded, and then hung-up the phone. I finally allowed myself to smile. My secret was out.

THE END

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