“You wouldn’t believe what happened last night.” She says, sighing exasperatedly.

“Some girl was brought in in the dead of the night, beaten and battered. The girl was caught up in some hate crime.” She continues. “She came in with bruises all over her, she was actually throwing up blood. What a terrible shame, she was so pretty too. I hate how kids can fall into these things.” My mom says with sympathy and I turn my head to her, wondering if I heard right. Is she actually feeling sympathy for someone who is gay?

“It’s really sad to see what seem to be upstanding young citizens falling into the clutches of the ‘gay trend’.” All hope within me shatters.

“How can they be strayed away from the teachings of God, and be led away by the devil? It’s the bad pasts I tell you. What’s even worse, the girls parents were actually supporting her satanic relationship. Something like that shouldn’t be tolerated. Of course you can’t really blame the parents, such a child is corrupted. If anything, I feel sorry for them.” She continues with her rant and I see the others nod their heads in agreement, listening intently to what she has to say.

I really should be used to this. I should know by now how they feel about this, about me. They just don’t know it yet, and what’s worse, I’m starting to think that they never will.

Sometimes I just can’t believe their closed-mindedness. I can’t believe that they actually believe all that devil crap. It’s just stupid.

I let out a long sigh and do my best to ignore the heated conversation between them, something about the ways that people stray. I swear, they can probably write a book with their rants. Frankly, I’m just quite content that they don’t know anything about my school life.

I look to the clock and see that it’s time to leave. I pick up my stuff and leave the kitchen. Glen and Clay see my action and follow me out the door.

“Bye mom, dad!” Clay calls out.

“Bye honey!” They both respond.

I leave through the front door and head to the car. Glen and Clay soon follow and we drive off to the school. I quickly leave them behind and go to my first period class. I feel dead. They day is bright and sunny, but I feel entirely lifeless.