Luz had returned home looking distraught. She was in her room looking sad while holding a crumbled up note. She read it and it said, 'Amy, I like you. Do you think you'd want to go to the school dance with me?' The girl sighed as she crumbled it up in her hands and started to cry her eyes out.
Just then, the sound of her mother walking in could be heard. "Luz Noceda!" Luz heard her shout, but didn't respond. "I know you're home young lady! Mr Lee called! He told me you ran out of school!" She entered her daughter's bedroom, looking angry. "I don't know what's going with you. But you can't be-" Camila then stopped and noticed that her daughter looked sad. She then softened her exterior and sat down next to her. "Hey, what's wrong? Did something bad happen at school today?"
Luz wiped away her tears. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Luz, not talking about it is going to make it worse." Camila said gently. "Now tell me, what happened?"
Luz sighed sadly. "I tried asking someone out today and they rejected me."
Camila, despite finding it a bit of a lacklustre excuse, still softened her exterior. "Oh. Well, I know how rejection feels Luz. I've had plenty growing up."
"It's not that Mom. It was the response. They started calling me names and referring to me as names I don't wish to say." Luz replied.
"That's awful Mija." Camila said sympathetically. "If you don't mind me asking, who was this person?"
Luz didn't know how her mom would react to her sexuality. She knows that her mom grew up in a time where being gay or bisexual would have usually been something to joke about in early 90's sitcoms or over masculine movies about fighter jets and beach volleyball. How could she say it?
"They're not important." Luz replied.
Camila could see it in her daughter's face. Whoever this person was, was probably someone she wouldn't approve of or have a bad reaction to. "Mija, is this person someone you don't know I will like?"
Luz bit her lips to stop herself from saying anything, but she knew her mother was going to figure out eventually so she had to say something. "Okay." She handed her mother the scrunched up note and she began to read it.
Camila's eyes opened a bit, but she kept a calm composure as she read every letter and syllable. "Luz…..this Amy doesn't sound like she might have not been for you."
Luz was surprised by her mother's reaction. That was it?! No, big reaction?! Just, an opinion about someone she liked.
"What?" Luz responded. "You're not going to say anything?! Mom, I am bisexual! I like boys and girls! Why aren't you saying anything big about it?!"
"Because you're sexuality isn't who makes you who you are." Camila replied. "Luz Noceda, you are not defied by who you like. You are still the highly imaginative, creative and energetic daughter I have loved ever since the day you were born. But, one thing to say about you is that I am so proud of you for telling me. Coming out is something that isn't easy. It's something hard and it takes a lot of courage. Listen Luz, you're at an age where you're discovering yourself and I am very much willing to help you discover more about yourself."
"Well, it's great that you're actually accepting." Luz said. "Others were laughing. Not at my sexuality, but laughing at me being attracted to Amy. Even Amy laughed at me! And she is friends with a lot of bisexual people!"
"Luz, those people are morons and this Amy might be a…..no offence, a bit of a perra."
Luz chuckled for the first time since coming home. "Yeah. Amy is a bit of a perra."
"Hey, watch your language young lady!"
"Sorry." Luz said.
"I'm sorry that this has happened to you today Mija." Camila gently placed her hand on her shoulder. "But, I am proud of you for coming out to me. Thank you."
Luz expected her mother to be either angry or maybe start prying her with a million questions about her sexuality, but she was surprised that her mother was very accepting that tears began to well up in her eyes. Camila then wrapped her daughter in a hug which Luz returned.
Now Camila can hope that at some point in the future, Luz finds someone right for her.
