My Girl

21

*Callie*

While I was being questioned Arizona was more annoyed than I was. I love her family already and they are extremely welcoming.

We finally decided to come downstairs to eat and we were greeted by Arizona's sister. She was helping make breakfast.

10 minutes later

We were all sitting at the huge dinning room table eating and talking. The girls decided to eat outside on the patio after promising not to make a mess.

"So Callie, what's your family like, how did they accept you coming out? Do you have any siblings?" Zahra asks.

Great. Now I have to talk about my family. "Well, I come from a big family with lots of aunts, uncles, cousins. I have 2 older brothers and a younger sister."

Here goes nothing.

"Umm, they weren't that supportive when they found out I was gay and made me move to an all girls Catholic school which didn't really help but basically we haven't talked since Sofia was born, our only interaction is when they send her gifts." I said and all eyes were on me.

Looks of shock, concern, anger, and sympathy filled the room. Nobody knew what to say so I filled in the silence. "It's fine though, it doesn't matter because I have a huge family outside of them that support me."

"Callie I- I'm so sorry." Zahra says.

"Well we love you and if you feel like you don't have a family just know you'll always have us." Her mom says giving me a sympathetic smile.

Arizona hadn't said anything. She was starring at her plate. Lost for words.

flashback

I was walking home from school on a bright Friday afternoon. I unlocked the door and there stood Mama, Papa, and a familiar priest.

"What's going on?" I asked confused.

"We know your secret mija, Abigail's parents called us after they found you two in her room, you're being sent to Trinity Catholic starting next Monday." My Papa explains.

A couple days ago my crush Abigail, and I were working on a project when her parents found us cuddled up on the bed. She promised me nothing would happen, she broke the promise.

"Mama, no puedes dejar que me lleven." Mama, you can't let them take me

"Es lo mejor" It's for the best

"Por que me estas haciendo esto, no hice nada malo!" Why are you doing this to me, I did nothing wrong

Then they all gave me a look. "Don't worry Callie, soon enough you will be set free and become normal again." The priest says softly.

"I AM NORMAL!" I yelled grabbing my bookbag and running out the door. I ran and ran until my legs gave out.

I looked around me to see that I was about 7 miles away from home. I knew the area pretty well because I've been here for 15 years. I was in my Aunt V's neighborhood. I hesitated walking in.

I knocked on the door and within seconds gave my Aunt V. "Callie, what's the matter sobrina?"

"They are trying to take me away, they know about me and Abigail and they are trying to take me away." I cried into her arms.

From that day forward I never talked to my parents, or Abigail ever again.

end of flashback

Arizona's parents had went to the store and it left me with the kids, Zona, and Zahra.

I watched them from the garden room as they played with Zahra outside. Arizona came from behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist.

We stood there in silence for a few seconds just taking in each other's presence.

"How come you never told me?" She asks.

"Well, I figured we would talk about our family at some point but I didn't know how to bring it up, I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, when you are ready to talk, just talk."

I took a deep breath in, I could trust Arizona, I knew I could. "Her name was Abigail, she had curly blonde hair and hazel eyes, I had a huge crush on her freshman year of high school, she liked me back. One day I went over to her house to work on this project and we cuddled and fell asleep and her parents found us." I stopped to make sure she was still paying attention.

"I'm listening love."

"Well I got home one day and there was my parents and a priest telling me that I was being sent away and I just ran, I ran to my Aunt's house and she took me in until I went to college, I've actually told her about you and I try to keep her updated with my life every week or so."

"Well I hope one day I can meet her."