AN: Inspired by lyrics from "The Flame Still Burns" by- Foreigner
I always knew that there was something lacking in my family life. Even when I was little I knew that something wasn't right though I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
My mom spent time with me when I was little. She would play board games with me and read to me. My father would happily take me outside to throw a baseball or football around. When I got older he would take me hiking or fishing which was the extent of his outdoor activities. Dad loved his luxuries too much to go camping. If I fell or got hurt, whoever would there would check me for injurie an efficiently take care of it. They made sure I had everything I needed and almost everything that I wanted.
Around second grade I was finally able to put my finger on what was lacking - a personal touch. I had never gotten to sit in mom's lap while she read. There had never been any high fives or pats on the shoulder from my Dad. The concept of hugging was unknown to me until Cindy Sanders gave me a hug for climbing up a tree to retrieve her cat who had climbed it. As for kissing a boo-boo to make it feel better - that only happened when my baby-sitter was around.
And then I realized I was even different from the other boys. When my buddies started admiring the girls and started to date, I found myself watching them instead. Wanting to know what was wrong with me, I had started searching the internet until I found the information I needed. When I told my parents that I was gay, my mom got a sad look on her face and Dad suddenly took an interest in camping and mechanics. Things that he had always steered clear of because of his fondness for the finer things in life.
My parents weren't the only ones who became more distance my peers did too. Soon the only friend I had was Steven, the only one I knew at the time that could come close to understanding what I felt. And then I came to Dalton, and for the most part no one seemed to care that I was gay. I formed friendships over shared interests. No one was afraid to give me a high five or a pat on the shoulder. I found I could be myself and be liked. Most of all, I found the hope to believe again in a happy ending for myself.