Today is the dreadful presentation day, and I've been waiting for my name to be called in order to present my biography paper. Cambria's holding my hand, lending me all her strength to help calm my nerves. Public speaking is not my thing, and it never will be...
"Mia Nova," Mrs. Knight called my name.
I nervously stood up and walked to the front of the class, glancing around the classroom. All eyes were on me, and I could feel my anxiety rise. I quickly looked at Cambria, and she gave me a thumbs-up, mouthing 'I love you.' I placed my paper down on Mrs. Knight's desk, and she looked at me with a confused expression.
"You don't need your paper to aid you during your presentation?" She asked me, and I shook my head.
"No, I really don't," I answered honestly, causing other students to murmur.
I was now front and center, taking a deep breath. I closed my eyes and began to tell my story. After the first minute, I opened my eyes, looking around in order to fixate my attention to one of the posters on the wall. Doing this sometimes helps me dismiss the fact that I am the center of attention. I told the class about my biological parents and how they treated me when I came out. How easily they kicked me out on the streets and about foster care. I explained when I moved from home to home and how I got adopted to racist parents. I mentioned the many times I was bullied at the hands of Vivian. I finished my story with how my best friend, now girlfriend, has always made my life better and worth living.
When I finished speaking and refocused on the students in front of me, there wasn't a dry eye in the classroom. Everyone had tears in their eyes, including Mrs. Knight. Suddenly, out of nowhere, students began to raise their hands, as if to ask questions. I looked over at Cambria, and she was crying too, yet smiling proudly at me. I then glanced over at Mrs. Knight, not sure of what I am supposed to do.
"Do you have questions for me?" Mrs. Knight asked while she dried her eyes. I was surprised to see the students with their hands raised, shaking their heads.
"Do you have questions for Mia?" She then asked, and those same students now nodded. I wasn't expecting this.
"Mia, are you okay with answering questions?" She asked me. I took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.
"Lachlan, you may ask your question," Mrs. Knight called the first student.
"Was it hard for you to come out to your parents?" Lachlan asked, and I smiled at the memory, remembering how excited I was that day.
"It was easy, actually. I never knew what I was doing was considered coming out. I just really wanted to tell my mom when I realized how it felt to kiss a girl. I didn't know that being a Lesbian could be shameful, either. Before that day, my mom and I were best friends. I never thought either one of my parents could react in such a way." I answered, and he nodded.
"Elyse, you may go next," Mrs. Knight said.
"Um... Do your adoptive parents know about your parents, or acknowledge how they treat you and how it could make you feel? Elyse asked me, and I shook my head slightly.
"I assume that when they filed to adopt me, Kayla, my social worker, would have informed them. However, no... they really don't care about me. I know it is sad, but it's true. They alienate me every chance they get. I'm merely a diversity addition to their family. They literally said those words in front of me before." I finished answering her question.
"Okay, thank you, Mia," Elyse replied to me, and I nodded. I took a second to look over at Cambria, and she was smiling, making me smile.
"Nora, did you want to ask your question?" Mrs. Knight asked, and the girl nodded. I turned my attention to her now.
YOU ARE READING
Mia
Teen Fiction[Book 1 of the Mia Series] This story is about Mia and the struggles she deals with throughout her senior year in high school. Unfortunately, she has had no choice but to survive many obstacles in her life up to this point. Mia's biological parents...
