Drown

26

Mom, I need to tell you something I've been hiding for months. . . I'm not sure how to put it in a way where you won't be surprised. . .

Mark's thoughts were interrupted by his mother calling him for breakfast. He was desperately trying to organizing his words before he spoke them. He had to, he was just afraid of bad timing.

"Good morning, Marky," his mother smiled as he sat down at the table, a plate of eggs and toast already in front of him.

"Mornin', Mom," he weakly smiled back.

I need to tell her. I need to tell her.

I need to tell her!

Goddamn why is it so hard. . .

"Enjoying your breakfast, hun?" She asked in a sweet voice, continuing to cook her own eggs.

"Yeah, thank you," he quietly replied, taking small bites of his delicious food.

Better now than never.

"Hey, Mom?" He began, watching her carefully flip her eggs.

"Yes?" She questioned, most of her focus still on her food.

"I've gotta tell you something very important to me. . ." He trailed off, trying to figure out once again how to say it.

"Of course, dear, you can tell me anything," she looked back, a loving smile resting on her face.

"I'm. . ." He began hesitantly, looking away as though he were ashamed. "Well, Mom, I'm gay. . ."

She let out a small laugh, the same soft, loving smile on her face, "Oh, Mark, honey, I already knew that."

He was quite baffled, certainly not expecting this, "What?"

"I recognized the way you looked at Jack," she began, sitting at the table with her plate of food. "You've looked at him with the same love in your eyes as your father had me."

That's a big relief.