Running For Love

*~* 1 *~*

Heat filled Thomas' small bedroom, even though the fan was on its highest setting and facing directly at him, Thomas could still feel the high temperature of the afternoon. Summers were never Thomas' favourite season, they were always too hot to do anything in his opinion. The only good things he really enjoyed about his summers were the family barbecues or going to the beach and just lying on the sand, soaking up the sun and gaining a tan his fellow school peers would always be jealous of when he returned for the next year.

Thomas wiped the sweat that formed on his brow and picked up his iPhone from where it lay on his bedside table to see he had a text from his boyfriend, Joel. The pair had been dating for nearly year, but like most people in a same sex relationship, it had always been a secret. Being gay was always frowned upon, for years the majority of people looked down on the boys and girls who enjoyed the company of the same sex, saying that it was a sin. It was 100 years ago now that the government had to act to stop the spread of homosexuality. Alongside the police, they created an army base named the POWER, the Protection of World Existence Revolution, to take away anyway known homosexual. What happens to them once they get taken is a mystery to those who are living on the outside world of the POWER's army base. All everyone knows is they are never seen again.

It was all very bizarre to Thomas, that the world can't change and see there is nothing wrong with being in love with someone of the same gender. He didn't understand why people thought it's a sin and that they should rot in hell. Thomas believes they should be the ones to be burning in hell for thinking people in love and mean no harm deserve to be there more.

Like everyone, Thomas was worried how his parents would react to him if he came forth and told them of his secret. He always hoped they would be happy and understanding about it, any good parent wouldn't care that their child had a love interest, but he was wrong. It happened three days ago while Joel was over, the pair was sitting on Thomas' bed, playing his Xbox with the fan blowing cool air on them trying to keep cool in the ungodly weather conditions. The door was closed, like it always was. Thomas enjoyed his privacy, especially when Joel was over. The two boys were playing FIFA, and Thomas had once again lost the game, his third in a row that day. He may not be very good at the virtual, but he believes he's much better at the physical game.

Joel could tell the losses were getting to his boyfriend, losing isn't a thing Thomas is good at coping with, so Joel gave him a reassuring smile and a quick kiss. It just so happened, at the precise moment, his mum walked into his room, without knocking – Thomas' pet peeve his family did all the time. She stood in the door way and dropped the glasses of drink she had brought up for the two boys. The noise made them jump in shock and face the angry woman still starring at the couple. There was no use in trying to get out of what they did, it was obvious what it was between them.

She made Joel leave right away, and he did. No one spoke as Joel grabbed his t-shirt and left the room. But once he left, that's when he faced the warth of my angry mum. Spitting words of abuse and disgust and how filthy his love choices were.

At dinner that night, the tension could be cut with a knife. It was awkward and quiet. She had told his dad and younger sister, no one wanted to make conversation, which is the only time when the family gets a chance to talk about their day's events. Thomas didn't have the courage to talk that night, in fear of being yelled at, or just simply ignored.

After the meal, he quietly excused himself to his room to call Joel. The rest of the day had been a tough one, and he needed to know how Joel was after he left. It turned out, the horrible woman called Joel's father and told him about the relationship between their sons. He was sent to his room and didn't get fed that night.