" if our parents found out, they'd die."
"that's what's so great about it."
aura cooper was the farmer's daughter. known good girl, and hiding a huge secret.
cecilia bennett was the pastor's daughter. known rebel against the community, and not as...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
————
aura's pov
sunday was always everyone's day off. the sabbath. of course, that meant church, that meant seeing cecilia again.
"good to see y'all again! thank you again!" pastor rob said, particularly to dad, gratefully as he grinned back at him. "no problem, pastor rob. it's our pleasure," my father retorted. "so polite!" pastor's wife, pamela said back as i looked over her shoulder at cecilia, who covered her mouth as to not laugh.
it was clear to even me that cecilia sat beside me intentionally during the service. not uncomfortably close, but pretty close. that time of the mass began where they passed the bowl around for a good cause, tossing some coins in, i handed it to cecilia. "thanks," cecilia mumbled. "so polite!" i exaggerated, gasping as cecilia scrunched her nose, laughing.
just five days later, there was a loud knock on the front door. i furrowed her eyebrows. my mother was busy in the kitchen and my father outside. i brought it upon myself to answer.
there stood cecilia. her face red from crying and her knuckles a matching colour. "what's wrong?" i asked, placing my hand on her shoulder and guiding her indoors. she was a crying mess, barely able to talk. in fact, she wasn't able to talk. i guided her into my living room and sat her down.
"i'll go get my dad." i said hurriedly, rushing out the room and outside.
"carol! make the girl some tea, would ya?" i scoffed under my breath at my dad's exclaims but nobody commented. cecilia shook like a leaf on the couch. "he kicked me out." she finally choked out. "they all did. they don't want nothin' to do with me." cecilia explained, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"why not, girl? you know... i know you're not... y'know, your family, but that ain't no reason to disown a girl." my dad sighed as cecilia frowned, her eyes flickering between me and daddy.
"you'd understand if i told ya." she replied, her voice groggy. my face contorted into one of sympathy as i took a seat beside her.
"i'm clearly a dad myself, cecilia, there ain't nothing i haven't heard-" "i told my daddy i liked girls." cecilia swiftly cut him off. the room fell silent. my eyes widened, my dads shoulders tensed, my mom's eyes flickered to the floor.
"oh!" was the first thing my dad said. "i... i... i know your dad loves god and everything, but... c'mon." my dad clicked his tongue. i knew he was probably trying to keep a worker. then, he must've realised my presence. like, gained consciousness i was here.
