The moment of shear and utter silence that followed, although only lasting for two seconds at most, was pure hell. I could think of nothing more to say to them. Finally, my mother opened her mouth.

“That’s not the way God wants it to be,” she mumbled under her breath.

“But, I’m finally happ-” I tried to protest before getting cut off.

“Get out,” she growled. She opened the door and pointed down the stairs.

I had lost my battle. All that time of confusion and depression as a child, all those years of fear of revealing who I truly was to my own parents, all the preparation and thought I had put into this visit, all the courage it took…it was all worth nothing. Failure resounded through the silence, shooting straight to my heart as I got up and walked towards the open door, until I heard my father say something from behind me.

“Damn lesbian,” he said through gritted teeth.

I stepped through the doorway and continued down the stairs until that god damn appartment was nowhere in site.