Anna used her key to unlock the front door. In the vast living room sat her parents, happily engaged in animated conversation with Felix and Teresa. She watched them for a moment from the distance, the family unaware of her presence. For the moment, she felt like exactly what she was…an outsider.

"Little sis", Felix looked up with a grin. "Fancy seeing you here. Sit down and join us."

Teresa gave her trademark fake smile while her parents looked up, genuinely surprised and happy to see her.

"Come in, Mija", her mother beckoned her.

"Thanks, Mama."

"We already had dinner but I'd be happy to fix you a plate. I made Pan Dulce, your favorite."

"I'm fine."

"Red beans and rice? Enchiladas? Carnero?"

"No, Mama. Really. I already ate."

"Well, come sit with us", the older woman offered just the same.

She looked back at the door, then walked further inside motioning for a nervous Peyton to follow her. She did, watching the expressions fall on Anna's parents' faces. Teresa scowled and Felix gave a little smirk.

"Mama, Papa, Felix, Teresa…I brought Peyton with me…"

"Well, please. Come in. Have a seat, Peyton. Make yourself comfortable", Mr. Garcia reluctantly offered.

"Thank you", Peyton nodded politely.

The two women sat down to eight staring, prying eyes.

"Well, what brings you two by?" Mrs. Garcia asked.

"We wanted to see you. Um, Peyton and I were just coming from our apartment and…"

"'Our' apartment?" Felix questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes", Anna sighed. "Um, Peyton moved in a few weeks ago."

There was awkward silence for a while, not one person saying what was all on their minds. Finally Teresa took time away from filing her already perfectly manicured fingernails to ask the burning and until then, silent question.

"Don't you live in a one bedroom apartment, Anna?"

Anna looked over at Peyton. It was her moment of truth. After all it was the reason they had come over. Anna was tired of hiding. Good or bad reactions, she wanted her family to know the truth. She owed it to them. She owed it to Peyton. More importantly, she owed it to herself.

It was a statement. It was a declaration of independence. It was time to tell the truth finally. It was the choice to lift the heavy burden from her shoulders. Finally she could be herself.

"Yes, I do."

"But…"

"I came here tonight because I wanted to tell all of you guys something. This is very hard for me but at the same time, it's very important."

"Anna…"

"Mama, please let me finish", she explained. "I have to."

"This is gonna be interesting", Felix chuckled as he sat back and gave his little sister his undivided attention.

"Whatever it is, say it, Anna", her father instructed anxiously.

Anna took the deepest breath of her life. With Peyton eyeing her closely, it was now or never.

"First of all, I want you guys to know how much I love you. Because I really do. You're my family and I love you. Your love, your support means everything to me. It always has. Especially when I was a little girl. I remember nothing in the universe was cooler than my big brother. I used to follow Felix everywhere and it drove you absolutely nuts, remember? And I was the biggest Daddy's girl. I still am. Because even now that I'm all grown up and high school and now college days are behind me, I still seek that love and approval and support. I need it more than ever. Because I love you guys with all my heart. And no matter what I do or where I go, at the end of the day, all you really have in this life is the people who love you. Friends…family."

"We do love you, Anna", her mother responded, concerned.

"Good. Love me for who I am."

"And just who is that, Anna?" Felix asked.

She looked at Peyton and gave her lover a small smile.

"I am Anna Maria Garcia. I am a recent college graduate. I am going to be an elementary school teacher. I love dogs and kids and stuffed animals and dolls. I'm secretly addicted to reality TV. I'm your daughter and your sister. And…I'm gay."

Mrs. Garcia placed her hand over her heart as the smiles disappeared from Felix's face as well as his father.

"Shut up, Anna!" Mr. Garcia angrily pointed his finger at her. "You shut up right now!"

Anna summoned an inner strength she didn't know existed.

"I'm gay and I'm straight and uh…it really doesn't matter or at least it shouldn't because I hate labels. You know, it took me a while and a lot of courage to be able to say this to you. I pray you can look beyond your own prejudices and misgivings and religious beliefs and what society says is acceptable. I hope those things won't be an issue. For now all you need to know is this…my name is Anna and I'm still the same Anna I've always been, the same Anna you loved ten minutes ago, and the same Anna that fell in love with another woman…this woman. For now, I'm just trying to find my way like most kids my age."

"Anna…"

"I'm just me. I am who I am. Take me or leave me. Love me or leave me."

Mrs. Garcia put her head in her hands and began to sob as she clutched at Rosary beads.

"Oh where did we go wrong?" she whispered over and over again.

"Mama, you didn't do anything wrong…"

"This is bullshit!" Felix rose to his feet, pointing at Peyton. "You! You did this! You stupid dyke! You corrupted my little sister!"

"Felix!" Anna reprimanded.

Peyton stood and faced the angry man in front of her.

"Is that all you got, Felix? Honestly? Is that the best you can do? Lesbo, dyke, fag, queer, carpet muncher, beaver hunter…come on. I know you have a better insult than that. Or maybe you don't. Maybe your hate and ignorance only allows you to attack people with evil words and cowardly actions just like you did to my car. That's fine. Hell, I forgave you a long time ago. Know why? Because I feel sorry for you. You are a pathetic, worthless excuse of a man, of a human being. You can spend all your time hating and judging and condemning your sister and it'll only make you more bitter and spiteful. I love Anna and I accept her. Gay, straight, bi, Latina…none of it matters. None of it except the beautiful, wonderful person on the inside. That's what I see and love and accept. If you can't…then too bad. It's your loss. It's a huge loss for all of you."

"This is unacceptable", Mr. Garcia shook his head. "It goes against God and everything you have been taught. We cannot and will not condone such behavior, Anna."

"It's a phase, Mija", Mrs. Garcia wept. "It's a phase."

"Maybe so but it's my life. Right now, it's the most honest part of my life and I'm not ashamed of that", she said, grabbing Peyton's hand. "No regrets. We can't change who we are inside and what we feel and love is a very powerful and beautiful thing. The God you raised me to worship and love…well, I think he understands that, too."

"This is sick, Anna", Felix continued. "You're going to ruin your life! You're going to let her ruin your life! What about kids? What about your career?"

"I don't know about any of that, Felix. All I know is that I love this woman. She makes me happy, happier than I've ever been. All the rest…well, somehow I just have faith that will all tie together."

"Anna…"

"I know this is a lot to take and I know it hurts. I'm not sorry for loving Peyton but I am sorry if I hurt you. I'll give yiu guys your time and space to deal with the new reality of it all. If you're ever ready…when you're ready, I'll be waiting with open arms."

With that, she led Peyton out of the house where they slipped into the blonde's car. They sat quietly for a while, just taking it all in.

"You okay?" Peyton finally asked.

"I'm fine, baby", Anna nodded.

"Gosh, that was horrible. It was intense. I'm sorry you had to go through it. No wonder you were so afraid to tell them. I had no idea."

"It's okay."

"No, it's not okay. I wish they would be more tolerant and accepting but you can't change people's way of thinking sometimes. I just feel like it's my fault, like somehow I came between you and your family."

"No, babe. It's not like that. Pey, none of this is your fault. I should have been honest with them a long time ago, years before you. Bit I'm tired of being ashamed when I have nothing to be ashamed about. I love you and I'll never take that back. I want them to accept me but eventually that means accepting you, too, accepting us. And if they can't…"

"If they can't, Anna?" Peyton asked softly. "They're still your family. Babe, I know how much you love them."

Anna sighed, feeling extremely relieved and liberated despite the harsh fallout.

"Then you're right. I'll still love them but it will be their loss."