Damaged

Daniel

Twenty Two

I woke up a week later and it was still weird how everyone was walking on egg shells around me. They all seemed to think I would break and it was like they were all sitting around waiting for it to happen so that they were ready to pick up the pieces and put the puzzle back together.

There constant attention was making me anxious. I tried telling them that it would all be ok. I wasn't sure how to convince them that I had survived. I was free to be who I always was and that was worth it.

I really didn't need my family if they didn't want me for who I was. I had everyone I needed in my life now. I had a girlfriend who I could love in the open. I had a best friend who would always have my back. Meg's moms were amazing and were quick to help. They had helped me start the process of getting emancipated. I still wasn't sure if I wanted to go that direction but it was nice to know I had options.

Other things were falling into place. My grandmother offered to convert a spare room into a space for me but I couldn't leave Jack homeless so instead she helped convert the cabin into a home and I was able to share with Jack. It wasn't state of the art but I loved living with him. This was our new normal and it was a life I could quickly get used to.

Lucky for us we had bathroom privileges and food to eat from Meg's place but we would both need to get jobs. We couldn't leech off someone else's parents forever even if they kept insisting it was fine.

The sad thing was that finding work was harder then I anticipated. I never realized how much reach Matthew had. News had spread quickly and the world was still a horrible place that hated straight people. Doors were quickly shut in my face and most businesses didn't bother to even offer the chance to interview.

Jack wasn't having any better luck. He had been lumped in with the straight people because of his support for us. It didn't help that he had been arrested for supporting us and that was on any background check.

I was getting desperate so I texted Cornelius to see if he there was any help he could provide. He sent back a message for Jack and me to meet him later that evening and provided an address. It all seemed weird but at this point I didn't have any other prospects so I replied that we would be there and spent the rest of the day wondering what I got myself into.

Twenty Three

We arrived at the spot Cornelius asked us to meet him and waited. We parked outside a pool hall not sure if this was where we were meeting. It seemed like forever before his car pulled in behind us and he got out with another man. The man had his hood up but I could tell he was an older, closer to age with Cornelius. He limped as he exited the car and started towards the sidewalk.

They walked up to the door and Cornelius waved at us to follow.

Jack turned to me before exiting the car. "Do you think we will be safe in there?"

I was feeling nervous as well. My life was shattered over the last week with my family but I also knew I could trust Cornelius. I wasn't sure what I would do if I lost that last part of family bond that he and my grandmother provided. But still I didn't want to tell him that everything would be safe. I just wasn't sure.

I got out of the car and Jack slowly followed me. Cornelius and the man were already racking the balls for a game when we approached. Cornelius looked over and a smile spread across his face.

"Sorry we picked such a shady place but we need to meet in secret. Also Mikey here hates bright lights."

The man laughed as he extended his hand to me.

"I'm Michael but everyone calls me Mikey. It's great to finally meet you Dan."

I waited a few seconds before shaking his hand. "You know who I am?"

"Your Grandmother brags about you. We have been keeping tabs hoping to have you join our ranks." He stepped away and placed the cue ball on the table, "Want to play some while we talk?"

I wasn't sure what to make of this. I looked at Jack who seemed to be getting calm as he shrugged at me and picked up a stick. I followed him but didn't answer. Apparently I wasn't needed to speak because Mikey jumped right in.

"I lead a group of people who are just like you and Meaghan. They have been forgotten by family and have nowhere to turn. They feel abandoned and we become their family. We help then find work and meaning."

This sounded too good I knew there must be a catch and Mikey looked at me like he was waiting for me to ask the questions. I still didn't trust him so I didn't want to play into his game. Unfortunately Jack is more curious then me.

"What do you expect from us? Or from me since I am different?"

Turning to Jack he continued "We just look for your support in our group. Attend our meetings and take part in our rally to push for rights."

He placed a hand on Jack's shoulder "We don't see you as different. We know you have lost so much to support your friends and in effect support all of us. We do not doubt your dedication to us and would be happy to include you in our family."

At those words I knew Jack was sold. I also knew Meaghan would be in. She wanted to be able to live in the open and she had dreams that would be easier if we accepted this olive branch. Still I was scared.

I wasn't an activist. I always wanted a quiet life and it sucked that I had to fight just to exist. Cornelius was staring at me. I could tell he knew I wasn't sure about all this.

"You could attend a meeting with us and then decide"

Jack's eyes pleaded with me and my resolve broke. After everything could I deny him a new family?

"There has to be more to this then what you are saying?"

The question was directed at Cornelius but Mikey spoke up "The truth is we need younger people to step up. We aren't getting younger and who knows when this world will be ready to change. We need you guys to learn and take up the cause so that the need for change never stops."

He took a breather and I could see a nervousness in his eyes. There was worry there that wasn't a second before and I knew they needed us more than we needed them.

"We can attend a meeting and then decide how we feel"

Instant relief spread across Cornelius and Mikey's faces. Like they knew one meeting would be all it took to grab Meaghan and Jack. It's like they knew I would follow the other two to the ends of the earth.

Mikey handed me a card. "That's the time and place for the next meeting"

I read the card as he hit the cue ball with a loud crack.