There’s Something . . .

Written for the word prompt https://fivedotoh.com/2022/11/07/fandangos-flash-fiction-challenge-192/

‘There is something I want to tell you.’

Stephen didn’t want to say, what he needed to say. If his dad didn’t understand, then he would lose the one person, who was always in his life. He would go to football matches with him, cheer him on when he took the lead in school plays, helped him discover his dream job of being an actor.

Days, weeks, months, of waiting in the rain, now he was scared, what he was about to reveal would rip apart his relationship. Yet, he couldn’t carry on living a lie. The daily onslaught of when are you going to find a nice girl to settle down with. To be fair, that was his grandmother.

Another conversation for another day.

‘What is it son?’

‘I’m . . . I’m gay.’

Silence, but not as long as he expected it to be.

‘Is that all, I thought you were going to tell me about losing your job.’

‘You knew!’

‘Of course, I realised a few years ago when the only girls you went out with, were best friends. Besides, it is rather obvious.’

‘Why didn’t you say?’

‘Because it wasn’t something you would tell me when you were ready. It wasn’t my place.’

Stephen smiled, as his dad hugged him. He was scared to say something his father already was aware of. He thought of his boyfriend, partner, the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

‘I need to tell Grannie, but I’m worried she won’t understand.’

‘She does, more than you know. She will be fine with it, and the reason I reached out to you today. She said it was about time you were truthful, not only to us, but to yourself.’

Stephen felt the weight off his problems lift into nothingness – today was the first day of his new life. Perhaps, introducing his life partner was going to be great after all.