The Flower Story

The Last Supper

        "Mom, dad, I have something to tell you." My brother stood from his seat at dinner. It was his last dinner at home, for he was off to college tomorrow morning.

        Mom dabbed her scarlet red lips with the pearl shaded cloth napkin and laid it back on her lap. "What is it, Cas?"

        My father folded his hands in his lap and sat up slightly straighter.

        Castiel licked his lips nervously.

        Rebecca gave an annoyed glare. She never really did like Castiel. Not even as a brother. She was a junior in high school. Just two years younger than him, and two years older than me. Since she was the middle child, she wasn't as payed attention to as the big smart high school graduate of a brother, and the baby sister, so she hated both of us.

        He took a deep breath, blinked hard, and stared at mom. "I'm bisexual." He looked around at everyone's reactions.

        Mother's head bowed down slightly, her face stern, her red lips in a thin line. She was glaring at Castiel through her eyelashes. The pearl necklace on her chest rose and fell as she breathed a bit faster and harsher.

        Rebecca snickered and took another bite of her sirloin. 

        "No you're not." My father stood up, picking up his plate and walking past Castiel, towards the sink.

        I just kept my eyes on Cas. Was he serious?

        He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Yes dad, I am." He turned to my father's direction.

        "NO CASTIEL!" His voice echoed throughout the house. He cleared his throat and inhaled, like an anger management coping mechanism. "You aren't." he concluded.

        Mother had not taken her eyes off her only son. "Have you..." she paused, "have you explored this at all?" she asked.

        "Yes, mother. I've had a boyfriend for quite a while now. It will be three months in a week." he explained.

        Rebecca scoffed rudely, picking up her plate and putting it in the sink. "I knew we had a faggot living under this roof." She walked up the stairs, most likely back to her room.

        "Language, Rebecca." Mother scolded under her breath so even I could barely hear it from right next to her. She was most likely thinking the same thing, just couldn't morally say it out loud. She never broke eye contact with my brother.

        "Castiel, I want you to keep your sexual intentions to yourself. Especially in this house. You know homosexuality is a sin, and you are defying our Lord!"

        "This is not my choice, father!" Castiel raised his voice. It always scared me when he did that. When he got angry.

        "I beg to differ! What do you want from your mother and I? We can enroll you into some classes at the church. I'm sure they can help you." father suggested.

        "HELP ME?!" Cas yelled now. "I'm not sick! I'm not diseased!" he shouted. He stepped aside, slamming the chair under the table. "Don't treat me like a leper!" He stomped up the stairs.

        Mother's eyes followed him.

        Once he was out of sight, my father sighed loudly. "What are we going to do, Karen?" he asked mother.

        She just shrugged, shaking her head. She turned to look at me. "Help clean the table, will you Rose?" she asked.

        I nodded, getting up and bringing Castiel's dishes along with mine to the sink.

        My parents were in a corner, whispering to each other with concerned and angry faces.

        I finished up cleaning the table and ran to my room, tears in my eyes. This was all so much to take in. Castiel, bi? I barely knew what that meant if it weren't for the prefix of bi- meaning two. I still didn't fully understand it. That showed me how much my parents sheltered me. I felt like crap. I slammed my door shut and plopped down on my made bed. My tears began soaking my comforter. I calmed myself, listening to the heartbeat in my head, and I fell asleep quite easily.