1986, HAWKINS, INDIANA

Robin watched as her family quietly ate. The tension hadn't been there yet, but Robin anticipated for it. She saw her mother eating her dinner peacefully, while her father was busy reading the paper. Her sister, Molly, had been over her best friend's house that night. Perhaps this was for the best. Her parents hadn't noticed their daughter's quiet nature, as always, but she needed to speak up. Steve would be here soon if things were going to go wrong. Mandy offered to come to, but Robin refused. She didn't know how her family would react to their lesbian daughter when her girlfriend sat right beside her.

"Mom, Dad," Robin was not about to keep the secret any longer," I have something to tell you."

"What is it, Robin?" her father asked.

"I'm a lesbian."

She had said it so proudly and out loud that even she shocked herself. She blushed softly as her father looked up from his readings. Her mother looked slightly horrified, eyes wide and to her daughter. Robin knew her parents wouldn't react well. They were just about as bigoted as most people in Hawkins were. She wondered how the Stanfords felt about their daughter being a lesbian and if they were alright with it. She could only assume that they had taken it better than expected.

"You're a what?" he asked.

"A lesbian- I like girls."

"When did this happen?" her mother asked softly.

"Always," her daughter sighed," Look, I know it's hard to process, but this is who I am and I hope you can accept me somewhat for who I am."

"What about that Steve boy?" her father sputtered out," Isn't he your boyfriend?"

"No, but he's my friend-"

"How could you do this to us?"

The words confused Robin. She could see the anger on her father's face and the tears in her mother's eyes. She was starting to see that coming out to them was a mistake. She could feel regret in one way, but on the other hand, she was free. She could, in a way, be herself and not care what others thought. But as she looked to her parents, she was reminded of all the hatred that was in the world. Particularly in her own household.

"Why does it matter if I like guys or girls?" she asked, standing up" I'm tired of hiding who I am in front of you guys!"

"You've seen what's been happening out there," her mother began to cry," People like you are dying everyday because of that new disease. Is loving a girl actually worth losing your life? Is it, Robin?"

"People like me…"Robin paused, her fists no longer clenched as her hands hung to her sides," I didn't think you guys would react this harshly."

"How did you expect us to react?" her father asked," You come out to us in the middle of dinner and tell us that you're gay? It's bad enough that you like women, but if ever brought home a girl…You wouldn't be happy with her."

That had broke Robin. She stormed off and up the stairs of her former home. Her parents were looking for a way to react, while Robin had her bags packed and ready to go. She'd been prepared for a situation like this. She could sense that her parents would have an awful time accepting who she really was. She needed to forget them and needed to focus on herself and her future. She stared out the window and saw Steve, in his little car, waiting patiently as he was working on a letter. She noticed, however, Mandy was sitting in the back seat. Fear ran through Robin's heart as she dragged her bags out of her room and downstairs. Her parents looked into her eyes, begging their daughter to stay. Even though she knew they would never really accepted who she was. She looked into their eyes as she opened the door, putting her stuff on the porch. As she stood in the doorway, Robin took it all in. Her childhood was gone now, as she made one last remark.

"Mandy and I are happy together."

She slammed the door, grabbed her bags and walked towards the car. Steve and Mandy noticed and the girl got out of the car. She began to place the bags in the back, while Robin was trying to hide her tears.

"Robin, I'm sorry-" Steve was interrupted.

"What are you doing here?" Robin asked Mandy.

"I know," Mandy sighed," but I had to make sure you were okay."

The softness in her girlfriend's voice made Robin's eyes overflow with tears. Mandy took her girlfriend into Steve's backseat and they drove off. Robin had been crying, and both her girlfriend and best friend were heartbroken. Steve hated to see his best friend go through such a tragic event. He loved her to death and would never want anything to happen to her. Especially this. When he was at a stop light, he turned to Robin and watched as she sobbed in Mandy's arms.

"Robin," he said softly," Fuck them. You deserve a lot more than the bullshit you put up with at that house. We love you so much...but you're gonna hate me."

"Steve?"

"We have a change in plans."

Robin leaned back in the seat as Steve drove on. They made their way through streets and past the tallest buildings in Hawkins. Mandy was nervously tapping her feet against the bottom of Steve's car. She was hoping this would all go over well and that everything could be somewhat normal in their lives. She could feel herself tense up as they approached the Stanford house. Mr and Mrs Stanford stood in the doorway, smiles on their older faces. Robin turned to Mandy, who was blushing and looking away.

"My mom and dad insisted that they help you," she said," They thought you'd like to live with us.."

Robin hugged her girlfriend, thanking her softly. Mandy smiled and leaned into the hug. They got out of the car with Steve and the family was more than happy to greet their 'daughter-in-law', as Mr Stanford joked. Robin smiled and thanked her new family- she was happy to have accepting people in her life.

2019, NEW YORK

"Here's your prescription, Mrs Tanner," Robin smiled at the older woman," I apologize for it taking an extra day!"

"That's alright, Robin, dear," the old lady smiled," I wouldn't come to your store if I didn't trust you."

Robin smiled and thanked the older woman. As soon as she left, Robin checked the clock. Another successful day had come to an end. She knew her pharmacy had had a busy day (judging by her sore feet and back) but the woman couldn't be happier. She loved her job and her new life and she couldn't leave it for anything. Now all she wanted to do was come home to her beautiful she bid her employees a nice night, Mrs. Buckley walked upstairs and into the living room. Mandy sat on the couch, fiddling with her pen as she graded papers. Robin and smiled and hugged her from behind, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Hello, Mrs. Buckley," Robin said as her wife giggled," Grading papers, I see."

"As always," Mandy sighed," but they're wonderful. I never thought I would have such word choices and fluency from middle school students. Especially a young lady named Joanna."

"I got pointers from the teacher," their daughter said.

Joanna had liked being a part of her mom's classroom. She'd had a close relationship with her moms and was happy to be a part of the family. The young girl grabbed the nearby mail and handed it to Robin, who ruffled her daughter's hair. Robin found a bill, junk mail and a letter. She only saw that it was from Hawkins and, without thinking, opened it up. As she read on, she stood beside the couch, frozen from shock. Jo looked to her mother, who was unsure of what was going on.

"Jo, dear," Mandy said," Would you go into the kitchen?"

Jo, knowing it was a personal matter, scampered off. Robin had finished the letter when the wives made eye contant. Mandy somehow knew that it was the Buckleys. Robin sat down next to Mandy, who asked what had happened.

"They're apologizing."

"What?" Mandy asked with disbelief.

"They feel guilty about everything," Robin paused," Mandy, I have to call them…"

Robin went straight to her cellphone. She walked off to her bedroom, and Mandy stayed, knowing her wife needed to be alone. She hoped all was going well, and while she wanted to read the letter on the coffee table, Mandy knew it was private. She waited quietly until she heard the bedroom door open and Robin stepped out, tears in her eyes. Mandy stood up and walked over to her wife.

"What happened?" she asked softly.

"They...they meant it," Robin said softly," Mandy, they want to make amends. They apologized for treating me the way they did. They apologized to me and they told me they missed me. They said how much having me gone was killing them. That they're going to accept me for who I am. They..they love me, Mandy."

Mandy couldn't help but smile for her wife. She pulled her into a hug, swaying slightly as she did. Jo came out of the kitchen and Robin welcomed her with open arms, telling her how her grandparents would finally get to meet her.