I came out to my workplace today, and by that, I mean I told one coworker, and now all of the office knows, which was not my intention. To begin with, I wanted only one person to know to test the waters on how I felt about more people learning about sexuality. But now I will have to deal with everyone knowing. The person I chose to confide in was the only known queer person in the office, Melissa, who is bisexual. I didn't do a proper 'coming out' confession as I do not believe they are necessary, but rather the topic came up. She was discussing something related to her husband. She asked me about my current relationship status, so I used the opportunity to mention I had broken up with my boyfriend at the start of the year, a casual declaration of my sexuality. I did not explicitly state that I was gay or bisexual or anything like that; I just mentioned 'ex-boyfriend'.
Not long after, people came up to me, telling me they were allies, supportive of the lgbtq+ community, and would be there for me if anyone else in the office was homophobic. Naturally, I suspected Melissa for outing me, but then apologised as she was exculpated when Macy revealed she had overheard. Note to self: find somewhere more private for private conversations.
Macy had accidentally let it slip, as apparently, there was a bet on my sexuality amongst the workers in my department and the ones nearby. This wasn't the first time I had heard of a bet concerning my sexuality; the last one was about whether Cody was my partner, which at the time he wasn't and presently isn't, but almost was perhaps if we had ever managed to go on that date. But then you happened. You took that night away from us, and now we both aren't ready for a relationship anymore.
I do not know how to feel after learning that a bet was still going on. It is one thing to bet on whether someone is someone else's partner, but speculating about someone's sexuality and making such a big deal out of it that everyone has been thinking and wondering if I'm not like them, basing it on everything I do and how I look. It's like my otherness is another interest, a game to them, an oddity to guess and figure out. They apologised and gave me all the money they bet on; I do not know if they did this because they genuinely cared about my feelings, realised what they were doing was wrong, or were worried I would report this as homophobia.
With the money, I treated Kara to a night out.
Guy had asked how I was about the situation and if I regretted coming out. I don't think I do. I perhaps wished it was under better circumstances, but I do feel a weight off my chest. I do not know if I'll ever be comfortable enough to wear a badge or go to a Pride parade, but at the very least, I am okay with more people knowing. I don't need the whole world to know.
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...And I Am Going Home
HorrorThe second half of the 'I Have Been Chosen and I Am Going Home' duology. After escaping the clutches of a giant human-eating monster, nicknamed Snickelway, Oliver and Cody have to put a halt to their first date as they both try to mentally recover f...