Tyler

I must have dozed off crying. I had bad dreams of my father ushering me to hell. I was woken by my phone vibrating under my pillow.

“Hello?” I answered quietly.

“Hey, Ty. What’s up?”

“Nothing much,” I replied.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

How was I supposed to tell him about someone telling my father about our relationship, and then me lying through my teeth to him? The simple answer: I couldn’t.

“It’s fine, just something with my father. It’s too complicated,” I said. Just
because I couldn’t tell Chris about everything that just happened, did not mean that I was about to lie to him.

“Well, do you want me to come over?” he asked.

“No, it’s fine. I wouldn’t want my father to get suspicious,” I said quietly.

“What did you want to talk to me about, since you called?” I heard his nervous voice as I got up from the floor and walked over to my bed.

“Um, well, I got to thinking, and I realized that I have never taken you on a real date. So, I thought that maybe after school tomorrow, I could take you somewhere special. Nothing big, nowhere anyone would recognize us, but somewhere special,” he said quickly, holding his breath and waiting for my response.

The biggest grin spread over my face, and I started freaking out. He wanted to take me on a date!

“Of course!” I whisper-yelled. “Where are we going?” I asked, jumping up and down on my bed. He chuckled.

“Now, that is a surprise. It’s for me to know, and you to find out,” I could hear the smile in his voice. I also heard footsteps down the hall. “I got to go, Chris. I love you,” I said, and then realized that, that was the first time I had actually said that to him. Sure, I texted it, but I never said it, until now.

“I love you,” he said back to me, with more emotion than I could muster. We hung up, and I hid my phone under my pillow just before the door opened.

My mother peeked in.

“Are you okay, Honey? I thought I heard some noise,” she whispered.

“Yeah, mom. I’m fine,” I said, still smiling from the call.

See, my mom and I had a better relationship than I had with my father. I felt like I could actually talk to her, which made it easier for me to make a big decision right then. She also knew when something was up with me, so she took the hint and came in the room, shutting the door after her. She walked over to my bed and sat next to me.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” she asked, seemingly concerned.

“Mom, what would you do if I told you I was gay? I’m just curious to what your reaction would be,” I said quickly.

She sighed, seeming to think about it for a minute. It felt like the longest minute of my life. She smiled and turned to me.

“Well, if you were gay, I wouldn’t love you any less than I do now, because you are who you are and I would love you regardless.”

I felt like a big weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. She loved me. However, a question still lingered in my head.

“What about Dad, and the church? You wouldn’t hate me? You wouldn’t tell him?” I asked.

“Your father is very closed-minded, Tyler. He just doesn’t understand the fact that being gay is not a choice. As for the church, that has nothing to do with this. The church is the church, and they can think what they want. If you told me not to tell anyone, then I wouldn’t; and yes, that includes your father.”

I sighed with relief.

“Good, because I wanted to tell you… that I am gay.” I said, closing my eyes. I didn’t really know what I was expecting.

“Oh, I know,” she said.

My eyes went wide.

“H-how did you know?” I stuttered.

“Oh please, Tyler. You can at least give me some credit. I see the way you look at Chris. It was the same way I used to look at your father,” she said, smiling. She got up. “Oh and, about him. Don’t worry, I won’t tell.” She kissed my forehead and made her way to the door. “Goodnight, Tyler.”

“Goodnight, Mom,” I said, smiling.

I laid down and closed my eyes. I felt better. At least one of my parents accepted me.

One down, one more to go.

*****

Do you believe that love is unconditional?