Against The World

Part 2 - Coming Out

Finally. All of our schooling was over. It felt so good to not have the weight of tests on my shoulders, and it felt even better knowing that I could now begin my life with Jess. However, there were a few difficulties.

Obviously, gays aren't always smiled upon, let alone interracial, gay relationships. Going into this we knew it was going to be hard, but defying our feelings for one another on account of the 'comfort' of people we didn't even know? I don't think so.  We began to hold hands in public, and even though most were accepting - or just chose to ignore it - we still got the famous stink eye every once in a while. It didn't bother us too much though, because we had each other, and that was all that mattered. 

We were both reaching our early twenties when we decided that telling Jess' parents was the best course of action - As mine had passed away in a car crash when I was only 6 years old. After much disagreeing, and plenty of worrying about the fact that our relationship could be at stake, we came to the conclusion to come out. I read online about different ways to tell parents and other family members that you're gay, and don't get me wrong, they were great ideas, it's just that her parents weren't the understanding type, and it didn't seem as if it would be that easy.

We walked into Jess' house, together. As we began to approach her parents who were sitting on a large white, leather couch in a pristine living room, we held hands. Jess managed to piece a small sentence together, but I could feel her hand trembling. 

"Mum.. Dad? I.. I'm gay.." she said, her voice shaking more than I had ever heard before. "..You're what?!" her mum replied with the tone of building rage. "I'm gay. And.. and this is my girlfriend - Alexis." Her dad stood up with anger - and a little bit of disappointment - in his eyes. "I did not raise my daughter to be a dyke" He said, and I could see the rage building up in both of them... this was horrible. I finally stepped in "Don't call her that! She's beautiful, caring, kind and loving, and I'm surprised that someone like her was raised by people like you!" Once I started, I couldn't stop. No one spoke to my girlfriend like that, no matter who they were. "Who do you think you, are you slut?! You're coming in and tearing my family apart, and I won't stand for it!" Jess' dad exclaimed. That's when Jess had had enough. 

"SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" she screamed, "If you people aren't going to love me like I'm your daughter, then I am not going to call you my parents. We have been here only 15 minutes, and you've already insulted me, my girlfriend and my sexuality. I have been hiding this from you for years, and I have only told you now because I thought you were adults, and capable of wrapping your small minds around the fact that not everyone is like you two!" I could see Jess tearing up. I squeezed her hand to remind her I was there, and I would stand by her. Her parents stood there in shock, her mother shaking, only slightly. Her father stormed out of the room and into the kitchen, a few seconds after, we heard a very loud smash. He had broken the glass bowl Jess had made for them in her 10th grade technology class, the beautiful one she had written the words 'Family is everything' on. 

That's when Jess broke. She cried and cried, and my heart broke because I knew there was nothing I could do to help. I walked us both to the front door, and a disgusted, enraged expression looked like it was burned onto her mother's face. As we walked out of the beautiful, grey house I turned around to express myself one last time: "I am proud of who I am, and I'm sure Jess is too.  We belong together, and if you can't deal with that.." I stuttered, but finally gathered myself just enough to spit out: "then fuck you!" 

I slammed the door behind me and I guided Jess off the balcony. I quickly walked her to the park right across the street where we sat. Jess broke down as if she was alone, crying into her pillow, but that was ok. I was going to be Jess' 'pillow' if she ever needed one. 

Almost 10 minutes had passed, and Jess was calming down. I gently touched her face, pulling her to look at me. I wiped her tears and ignored the red, blotchiness of her beautiful skin. I hugged her tight and after, leant in for a kiss. It was magical, not our first, but magical. We broke apart and I saw her crack the tiniest of smiles. I looked into her teary, puffed up eyes and told her right from the bottom of my heart: "I love you, and I don't care what anyone else thinks. We can elope if we have to.. but I'm not spending my life with anyone else, no matter how hard it gets. Jess you're perfect, if not to everyone, then to me. It will be us against the world, and I have never been more prepared to fight by your side." 

I could feel the tears stream down my face as my heart broke for my best friend. We fell back onto the grass and the cool dew dampened my t-shirt. We stared at the stars in silence, there was nothing left to say.