Below the Sky

Chapter 20: Lila

"Lila, Lila, get up," someone was shoving my shoulder. They pushed me, ignoring my groans of protest.
"What!" I yelled out, not wanting to move from the soft part of the forest floor I was laying on.
"Lila, Lila please wake up," the person insisted more, trying to get me to sit up. At last I relented, dragging myself from my position on the floor.
I looked around, noticing Maya shaking me. At one glance at her I immediately scurried away, disgusted by the look at her. She hadn't done anything to stop what Mama and Papa had said to me. Oliver technically hadn't either, but at least he had looked slightly sincere.
"Lila, we need to talk," Maya said, sitting down beside me. She left a comfortable distance between us, clearly noticing my disgust.
"Fine, what is it," I moaned, not feeling like having this conversation.
"Do you really love Riana, like the way you're supposed to love another man?" Maya asked me.
I suddenly felt nervous. Did I love Riana? A part of me wanted to tell Maya of course not, I would never love a woman like that. However, I knew deep down that even if I tried to deny it, I would simply be lying. I did love Riana, and shouldn't have to hide from my feelings, even if other people didn't approve of them.
"You know what Maya," I said, "I really do love Riana, the way I'm supposed to love a man."
Maya's eyes widened, not from surprise exactly just what I had already said being confirmed. "But, but how does that even work?" She asked.
"Well Maya," I began to soften slightly. Maya was just young, and she only knew what she had been taught, which was loving another of the same sex was wrong and should be scorned upon. "You see, me and Riana have a special connection. I don't exactly know how to describe it, or even what it means, but it exists. That connection makes us ache for each other, to want to feel the press of our bodies up against the other. Do you understand now?"
"Kind of," Maya was still slightly confused.
"Okay, think of it this way," I said, "you know how you love your Mama and Papa, and though you will give them hugs from time to time, you would never go farther than a kiss on the cheek, right?"
"Of course not, I couldn't imagine doing anything with my parents without being grossed out."
"Well think of those strong emotions you feel towards Mama and Papa, except times them by about three. Now that emotion that you would get is romantic love, or even sexual. That love is what makes you absolutely need to feel the touch of the person you love, like me and Riana."
"I kind of get it now," Maya said.
"So do you understand how me loving Riana isn't much different than if, let's say, I was in love with Luke?"
"Ya, okay," Maya said.
"Good," I smiled, and pulled Maya in for a quick one armed hug.
"Now, are you going to go explain to Mama and Papa what I just told you?" I asked.
Maya's face paled, and her eyes became a storm cloud of panic and worry. She bit her lip, fear and anxiety clearly rolling over her. "I don't know Lila, do I really have to explain it to Mama and Papa?"
"Not technically," I said, "but it would be the right thing, because the last thing anyone wants is to act cruelly towards another person simply for loving someone. Love is such a strong emotion, and it should never be scorned for."
"Okay," Maya said, confidence returning to her tone, "I'll try and explain it to Mama and Papa, I can't make any promises though."
"Thank you," I wrapped my arms around Maya's thin body, pulling her close. She was warm, and the touch of another human, even if it was only my sister, was still comforting.
"I'll go talk to Mama and Papa now," Maya said. Seeming pleased after our conversation, she jumped to her feet, and hurried out of the brush.
I though, still tired from the day, laid my head back down. I noticed through the canopy of the trees that the sun was beginning to set. Not much, there was still plenty of light in the day, but it had still been a while since Mama and Papa had given me that lecture.
Then my thoughts turned to Riana, where she was, what she was doing. I figured that Mama and Papa had talked to her too already, meaning she was probably off somewhere, wallowing in her own self pity, like me. My exhaustion soon took over any thoughts though, and I felt myself being pulled into the warm arms of sleep.

"Lila, Lila!" I awoke after some time to Maya awaking me. I glanced up, and noticed that the sun was below the tree line, meaning that darkness would soon set over us.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Mama and Papa said that you have to go talk to them. They have something important they want to tell you."
So at last I pulled myself out of the thick brush, and hurried out of the forest towards the barn. When I entered, I found Mama and Papa in similar positions as earlier, seated at the center table, stern looks on their faces.
"Lila, have a seat," Mama pointed to a chair.
So I sat down, and we began quite a similar conversation to the one I had just participated in, but worst...