Through Thick And Thin

Chapter 3

"You're what?" my mother says as she stares blankly at me.

"I'm a lesbian, Mom. I like girls. The idea of being with a guy doesn't seem right to me."

My mother stares at me. She crosses her arms and looks confused. She starts to pace in a circle while she mumbles to herself. 

Oh no. What have I done?

I go to open my mouth to say something. I don't know what I would say, but I feel like I should've said something. Instead, my mom wraps me in a hug. She holds me tight, and I squeeze back.

"Mom?"

"Oh, Emma. I'm so happy that you told me."

"Are you mad?"

"Not at all, dear. I love you so much."

"I love you too."

I hug her tighter, and she does the same. We embrace until we hear my father yell for us.

"I have to tell Dad," I say as I let go of my mom.

"I'll have your back, Emma."

We walk down the stairs and to the living room to find my father sitting on the couch with Joey. I coward behind my mother.

"What was going on up there?" my father asks us.

"We were just talking, Frank," my mom says. She has a strange sternness to her voice.

"About?" my father says as he sits up.

My mother pulled my arm motioning for me to stand in front of her. I hear her whisper to me that everything will be okay. The thing is, I don't feel okay. I know my father won't be as understanding. I know that he will never look at me the same. But he has to know.

"Dad," I say with a sigh. it's now or never. "I'm a lesbian."

My dad doesn't say a word. Joey looks at me for a moment, then goes to play on his phone. My mom grips onto me tighter. 

I watch as my dad leans back onto the couch and runs his hands over his slightly balding head. I stand there, terrified. Who knows what he will say...

After two solid minutes of silence, my dad looks at me.

"Alright, Emma," he says. He then leans back on the couch and turns on the TV.

My mom lets go of my arm and sits next to him. I stand there for a minute to see if he will say anything else. When I realize he won't, I head back up to my room with a smile on my face.

Everything was going great. For now.