"What were you doing while you were at the mall, Kerri Mortisen?"

That was not good greeting to receive. Kerri's mother was at the door when the brooding girl returned home. She cringed. "I bought a dress for prom."

"You know that's not what I mean!" Her mother exclaimed fiercely, "Anita saw you kissing another girl! Explain yourself!"

"It wasn't…It wasn't what it looked like. Kamatari-"

"You were kissing Kamatari?!" Mrs Mortisen shrieked.

"Yeah, but-"

"Why were you kissing her?"

"Mom, will you listen to me? Kamatari is not a girl!"

"Do you know how embarrassing this- What?!"

"If you had listened to me the first day I went out with him, you would know this already! I was trying to tell you but you never listen to me!" Kerri screamed in frustration, "You don't listen to me, Mother! You never do! Like when I tried to kill myself and you pretended nothing happened! Or all those times I tried to tell you that Sojiro was in trouble! They beat him! They make him sleep outside! I tried to tell you! You don't listen!"

"When did you…?" Her mom paused, thinking back to that night she had gone out with the homosexual. She did vaguely remember Kerri trying to tell her something that night, but then her daughter had given up.

"I told you I was going out and you said something about Kamatari and I tried to tell you but you just kept talking!"

"Kerri, I-"

"News for you, Mom: Kamatari is a guy! A Guy! And I love him! I don't care how many people think I'm a lesbian or bisexual, I want to be with him!"

"Kerri, why would you…?" Her mother was at a loss for words. She had no clue what to say to this. Her daughter wanted to be with a gay, cross-dressing man? It was too much to handle.

"You don't understand…" Kerri turned her back to her, "How could you understand? You know nothing about me." Her eyes welled up with tears and she stared at the shag carpet, her stringy hair falling across her face. She had expected this, but not so soon. She thought she'd have a little more time to explain.

Her mother stared at her back. My God, it's true…I know nothing about my own child. When did I lose her? When…? She's suffering so much. I turned off all the bad things. I didn't want to…No. There's nothing wrong. It's that teenage drama thing. Everything is fine.

"You've got nothing to say?" Kerri's voice came very soft, "I didn't think you would. I'm messed up, Mom, and you don't even care. I'm going to bed." She shuffled wearily down the hall, threw herself onto her bed, buried her face in the pillow and sobbed.

Mrs. Mortisen picked up the discarded shopping bag and peered into it. She pulled out the velour dress, inspecting it carefully. This is gorgeous…She looked at the tag, And she got it real cheap too. She's going to look so beautiful in this and she has no idea…

Somewhere across town, Kamatari was flitting cheerfully around a small apartment. He had given much thought to the kiss with Kerri and decided he rather enjoyed it. She was such a wonderful girl and he loved her deeply. He couldn't control his smile, he was so happy.

Mom's going to want dinner when she gets home…Let's see…Hamburger Helper…He hummed to himself as he pulled out a box and a package of ground beef. "…But I will still love you forevermore. Oh, how I loved your lips; they gave, oh, the sweetest kiss…"

The lock clicked and the door swung open. In trudged his mom, her usual scowl plastered on her face. "You, shut your mouth. You know I don't like that band." She growled.

"Hi, Mom." He ignored her bad mood. She was having one of her turns and it would pass soon enough. She was usually in a funk when she got back from work.

"What the hell are you smiling about?" She asked in an annoyed tone, "I hate when you get that look on your face. It makes me wonder what kind of nasty thoughts you're thinking now."

"I can't help how I am, Mom." He said quietly.

"Don't give me that! I didn't raise you this way. Why can't you be normal like other boys? I understand why your father left and why he didn't want you. What did I do to deserve a queer like you?" She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"You're just tired. Why don't you sit down? I'm almost done cooking."

She sank into a chair and he looked over his shoulder at her. His poor mother; she seemed so old and worn out. "It's been hard since Dad left last year, hasn't it?" He asked her quietly as he scooped the noodles and beef into a bowl.

His mom laid her head on the table. "What did I do wrong? Tell me, Kamatari, what did I do that was wrong? I tried to be a good mother and a good wife and what did I wind up with? A cheating husband and a son who would rather be a daughter. What didn't I do?"

"Mom, it isn't your fault. I didn't chose this." He set the bowl on the table and pulled a couple of plates and glasses from the cupboard. "But you know, I think I was wrong…"

"What do you mean?" She raised her head and he could see she was trying not to cry.

"There's this girl…"

"A girl?" A hopeful light lit her eyes.

"I met her on the last day of school. She's friends with Sojiro. Her name is Kerri."

"Kerri Mortisen?"

"That's right. You know her?" He blinked his velvety eyes, wondering how on earth his mother could know Kerri.

"I was still working at the hospital when she tried to commit suicide, Kamatari. All the nurses felt so sorry for her. Lovely girl, but her parents don't give a damn about her. Neither does any one else."

He frowned, his face darkening. "I care about her. She accepts me as I am." He sat down across from her at the table, "She's the first person who doesn't think I'm disgusting and she doesn't want to change me. She even wanted me to kiss her today."

"Do you like her?" This was all she had been hoping for: he would meet a girl and change his mind about liking men.

"I don't know…I'm so confused. She's beautiful. She just wants to be loved and I don't know what to do." He ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it from his face. His mind was racing, his thoughts a jumbled mess.

"Kamatari," His mom reached across the table, resting one of her hands on his, "I don't understand everything about you. I don't pretend to understand. But you are my only child and I just want you to be happy. If you like this girl, tell her. Don't pretend you don't because you think you're gay. You've got to follow your heart, wherever it may lead."

He looked up, his eyes meeting hers. His mother had the same sad eyes as he did and they were often sad for the same reason. Both were incredibly lonely. He knew his mother missed his father. He knew his mother cried at night. He knew she just wanted some one to keep her warm all those lonely nights.

A soft, bittersweet smile crossed his face. In the year since his father had left, his mother had not once been so kind. "Thanks, Mom. I think…I think my heart is telling her to chase after her, wherever she goes. I want to be there for her, no matter what. I get a feeling sometimes that things will only get worse for her."

"You're a good boy." She told him, "I know I don't tell you often, but I'm very proud of you. You put your whole heart into everything and that's a very good quality to have."

"I got it from you." His smile widened. He was glad she was no longer angry. The moments like that always passed in due time. "Now let's eat before it gets cold."

Mom, you remind me of Kerri. He wanted to tell her this. You don't know what you want or what you need. All you know is how much the world has hurt you…