Page 107 of Unfix Me

“He’s going back to Dumont,” my dad said to Dale. “I’m not letting him go back to the damn school with that fa-”

“With what?” I asked.

Wide eyes met mine. When my dad saw West, his face contorted with anger.

“Who the hell is this?”

West stepped forward and held out a hand. “West. Also known as Weston. Also recently known as the savior of wayward boy toys. But West is fine.”

“This is your friend from Seattle?”

“Yeah,” I replied. “And you were just about to call his best friend something disgusting, I assume.”

“Wanna finish that sentence?” West asked.

My dad closed the distance between us. When he tried to grab my arm, West stepped into his path, which just made him look more pissed off.

“Did you watch my video?” West asked, angling his head a little over his shoulder.

Anger flared inside of me again. I pulled up the video, which was paused on Travis’ face. Holding it up to my dad, I watched for a reaction, but there was none.

“Travis McKinney,” I reminded him. “We were at camp Dumont together. He killed himself, remember?”

He blinked slowly, then set his jaw. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit.”

“You were confused and felt guilty.”

West whistled. “I do love a good gaslighting attempt. However, I’ve been driving for twenty hours and I’d really like to get some Taco Bell on our way out of this place. Come on, Sen.”

“You’re not leaving,” Dad stated firmly.

“I am,” I said through the lump in my throat.

“Please,” Mom cried. There were already tears streaming down her cheeks. “You’re supposed to be here for Christmas.”

“I can’t be here. Look around you. Nobody wants me here and I can’t pretend anymore.”

“You’re confused. Let us help you.”

“Is your stuff packed?” West asked.

“Yeah, I never unpacked.”

“I’ll grab it.”

He disappeared, leaving me alone with my family. I wished he hadn’t, but I still needed to do this. That didn’t change just because he’d come to save me. Maybe it’d be a sort of closure and help me let go.

“I’m gay,” I announced loud enough for everyone to hear.

My grandma covered her face with her hands while my aunt and uncle looked uncomfortable. More tears streamed from my mom’s face and my dad… he was angry. Was he always this angry when I was growing up? I must’ve learned to overlook it. Or it could be why I stayed in my room so much playing video games and reading.

“My boyfriend’s name is Kai,” I went on. “And I love him.” Nodding slowly, I felt a tear slide down my cheek. “I love him, Dad, Mom. And I know it isn’t what you want for me, but I can’t change who I am and it hurts when you try to make me. Kai is incredible and I know you would love him if you just-”

My hands hit the floor before I felt the sharp throb in my cheek. My mom called my dad’s name, but it sounded distorted. My left ear was ringing and when I managed to focus my eyes, I saw blood on the wood floor.

I looked up at him with a mixture of anger and fear warring in my head. Grabbing onto the wall, I got to my feet.

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