Christian

I grew up in a small town. Everyone knew everyone. Everyone knew Nancy was addicted to meth. Everyone knew Travis was unfaithful, well everyone but his wife. Everyone knew she was in denial. That poor lady was always crying and cleaning. When she wasn’t cleaning and crying she was at church.

I’ve learned a lot from the people at church. I’ve learned that most religious people are accepting and very open to new ideas. I’ve also learned that some religious people choose to be close minded and only pick and chose Bible verses to believe in. It’s sad to see people let their own ignorance cause them so much stress and panic. I disliked going to church in my town because I didn’t agree with what everyone else did.

The only time I ever missed church was when I was sick. One fateful day I had a cold and was allowed to stay home by my parents. When they left I retrieved my stack of books that my parents banned but didn’t hide very well. I was in the middle of a chapter when I heard a car across the street. Church didn’t end until ten and it was only eight-thirty. Everyone in town was always at church until ten on Sundays, so I let my curiosity get the best of me and peered out my window. Across the street a family was moving into the recently sold house.

The family looked like any other family that lived in that town, except they didn’t. They looked happy. That was the first time I saw a happy family and it changed my life.

I met this family twenty years ago when I was five years old. Lucy and Steve are the accepting parents I never had. They are both so full of love and support. I wish my parents could see how happy I am now but they are no longer apart of my life. They don’t believe in the same things I do, quite frankly it’s their loss.

Lucy and Steve have a son named Derek. Derek and I became best friends. We did everything together. We rode bikes, we went to movies, we played on the same football team in high school, and we moved out of that toxic town. Derek followed his dream and became a plastic surgeon and has worked on many celebrities, too bad they all claim to be surgery free.

Derek didn’t do too bad for himself but I didn’t either. While Derek became a plastic surgeon, I took time to accept myself for who I am. It was a long and difficult process but I am ecstatic to say that on August 17, 2015 I took everything people said against me and shoved it in the trash. I also took Derek’s last name but he took my heart, so I guess he earned it.

Until tomorrow..