Any Story LGBTQ+ Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

Today, we have a brief short story that I wrote during my college days for an assignment. Thought I’d share it before I started another Free Written Blog story for your guys. Hope you guys enjoy. Let me know what you think.

Coming Out

James sat under the dark, low-hanging, weeping willow tree, debating whether to call his father and come out to him. Mom took the news better than expected; in fact, she put her hands around his cheeks and said, “I already knew, son. I love you no matter who you are with. Now, tell your father.” She wanted the impossible. Father never accepted anything he had done. Father thought his choices were like a fish out of water. Floundering around hunting their way back to their lifeline.

James planned his entire life out, except for how and when to come out to his family and friends. He knew the reactions of all of them. Or so he thought. His mom threw a monkeywrench into his thoughts. Her reactions sort of made him doubt what his father might say, but years of dealing with his father caused him to second-guess that doubt. His father was a Military General and held true to his beliefs. Never once had he budged on them, not even for his family. Dad’s own brother got in trouble with the MPs, and he refused to come to his aid or even take his call when he reached out to him. His father could be an ass to all those around him unless it fit into his perfect book of right and wrong. Something told James that being gay fell into the wrong side of that book.

His phone rang. The screen showed a picture of his Mom. She’d called five times since eight that morning. He’d refused to answer because he knew she wanted to know if he spoke to his father. His father was due home from a five-month stint in Japan tomorrow. Mom disliked keeping shit from the man, especially things about him. James was their only son, and his mom and dad were closer than two Siamese Twins. Still, ignoring her wasn’t wise. She accepted him and deserved to be able to face the love of her life with an open heart. And his dad, whether he accepted him or not, deserved to hear a major piece of information about his son’s life from his son.

He picked up the phone and said, “I have not called him, Mom.”

“What are you waiting for?”

“The nerves to disperse.”

“That will never come, James Allen Talbort.”

“Hey, no using my full name.”

Mom chuckled so loud James felt the smile coming from her through the phone. “I gave you that name, and I can use it when you are being a coward.”

“Not a coward. Want to save myself the disappointment.”

“Your father loves you, James. He will accept you as I have. You know that.”

“Mom, Dad has never accepted my decision. What did he do when I decided to go to art college?”

“Well . . . He wanted his son to follow in his footsteps.”

“Mom, he quit speaking to me for an entire year.”

“He came around.”

“Me being gay is not something I want him to come around to. I want him to . . . to . . . be like you. Act like you did. He doesn’t have to have already known, but he could at least say he will be there for me and whoever I choose to live my life with.” Words James knew his father would never say.

“You do not know what he will say unless you give him the chance. Now, get to calling him. That’s a motherly order.”

The line went dead. Silence clung to the air and roared through his ears as he stared at the black screen of the phone.

“Fuck it.” He used his face to open the screen, pulling up his contacts and calling his dad.

“Hey, James. How are you?”

“I am okay, General.”

“What did you do, James?”

“Nothing, General.”

“You only address me as General when you are in trouble. Why is that, Son?”

James looked upward, taking in his dad’s words. Did he? Was he the problem between him and his father? Did he cause some of the issues? Maybe it was a two-way street between them. If so, would his father truly react differently?

“Dad, I’m gay.”

“That’s why you called me?”

His voice sounded full of laughter. Not anger. Not shock. “Dad?”

“Oh,” his dad chuckled so deep it felt as if it vibrated the phone. “You thought your mom and I didn’t know? How could we not? You were not subtle about watching the men going by, or who you made gooey eyes at when you were younger.”

“But you were so pissed when I refused to go into the military.”

“Not because you were gay. I wanted my only son to follow in my footsteps, and I realized I was wrong. I’ve tried to apologize for that. I can’t change my actions, but I am sorry about that, more than you will ever know.”

Was he in another universe? His mom had been right. She usually was, though. Goodness, she’d tell him all about it once she spoke to him again. “You really have no issues with it?”

“No, I don’t. Have you found someone special? Is that why you decided to tell us now?”

Had he? Caleb and him had been together for over a year and a half, but they’d not spoken about where their relationship was going. Still, Caleb was all the way out and felt wrong to force him to remain in the closet because he had not come out to his family.

“Let’s just say, I’m unsure, but it was time to come forward.” And it had gone better than expected.