The Black and White Love

      “So, how’s your girlfriend doing?” asked the mother.

      “Just fine!” answered her son, in a nervous tone.

      “Well, Justin, you know if you need any help with anything, you can count on me,” the mother offered.

      “Thanks mom, I’ll have that on mind,” said the son, quickly getting out of the kitchen, where his mother prepared supper for tomorrow’s feast.

      It was June the thirtieth; the moon was shinning in a collage of clouds and stars. The wind was blowing pleasantly, making sound as it hit the leafs on the floor. Fireflies could be seen doing their nocturnal airborne dance for a mate between the oak trees that surrounded the desolated mansion in the middle of a forest. Silhouettes of rushed people could be seen thru the windows from the outside. But not all where rushed. Others had other feelings, feeling nervous? Anxious perhaps? It was hard to tell. But one thing was for certain, someone was cooking up something, and it wasn’t dinner, it was a plan to tell someone something, but what?

      In the darkness, a door could be heard opening and closing. Out of the house came a young boy, black long hair, skinny and tall with blue-as-crystal-water eyes. He wore an expression of fear, and of deep thought. He looked upwards, towards the sky. He passed his hand thru his hair, thinking. Justin wanted to do something, but he didn’t know how to do it. It’s as easy as to just spill it out, and that’s it, Justin thought. But, deep in his heart, he knew it was going to be harder than that. He kept thinking about his decision. Was he really going to do it? Had he the guts to come clean with his family? Especially his father? He was not sure, but as he thought of all of this, a sound of rattling leaves in the distance disturbed his concentration.

      “Who’s there?” asked Justin, not sure of whom could be causing the sound.

      “Don’t rush, it’s me.” Out of the darkness came a girl. She was beautiful. She had long to the waist hair, tanned skin, emerald green eyes, and, Justin could confirm, a good sense of fashion.

      “Oh, you scared me!” Justin was grabbing his heart dramatically. They both started laughing.

      Justin’s mother was standing at the doorway, wearing a cooking apron, when she said, “Sorry Justin, I forgot to tell you that you girlfriend called from the gates and I opened it for her to come in.”

      “No problem, mom,” said Justin, clearly not mad at all.

      “Are you really going to do it?” asked the girl once Justin’s mother got back in the house.


      “Come on Sandra, you know it’s the best thing to do. I don’t want to lie anymore.”

      “Ok, but if anything goes wrong, I’ll be here.” Sandra hugged Justin. Justin couldn’t believe he was really going to do it. He knew it took big valor to do it, but, despite his courage, he was still afraid. “So tomorrow’s your father’s birthday, huh?” continued Sandra while waking to a bench in the side of the house.

      “Yeah”

      “And what are you going to give him as a present?”

      “The truth.” Said Justin, looking away from her, towards his feet.

      “I don’t know about you, but I think your father is going to freak out once you tell him. Are you scared at all?”

      Justin knew he was deeply scared, but it seems he didn’t show it. He’s had previous bad experiences with his father in the past that made him so scared that this felt like a mere child’s game. For instance, when Justin was eleven years old he went to his grandfather’s house for New Year’s Eve. It was boring there, nothing to do but sit and talk, which in that age was boring. So he started playing around with his cousins, they played hide and seek, tag and all the games you can imagine. But they got bored again. So they went inside the house and found some matchsticks, and they immediately thought of making a campfire with the dead leafs around the house. They brought the leafs in and locked them self in the bathroom. The stroke the match and it became quickly ignited. They threw the match into the pile of dead leaves in the middle of the room and it quickly caught fire. Alarms all around the house started beeping once the smoke reached the detectors. Screams could be heard outside the bathroom. Suddenly the door opened and there it was the whole family, including Justin’s father. Everyone took hold of their children and parted from the party. After Justin got home, his parent’s started arguing heavily. Then silence fell upon the house, and fear was blooming in Justin’s insides. 10…9…8…7…. A lightning fell near by, making the lights go out, making Justin sink further with fear. 6…5…4…. The door to Justin’s door opened, Justin’s eyes closed. 3…2…. Justin opened one eye, and could only see a silhouette standing in the doorway, breathing hard; Justin breathing harder with fear. 1… The silhouette got closer, its hand reaching out for Justin. Happy New Year! It took him by the neck and started beating him, his fear being replaced with pain. He lost consciousness. Later he woke up in the hospital. The doctors said that he had fallen of some stairs; Justin thought they obviously missed the hand shape redness in the side of his body. After he got home, he was never the same with his father.

      A tear could be visible in the corner of his eyes. He felt like that happened almost yesterday. “No, I’m not scared” Justin answered Sandra’s question. He knew he was lying, he has never been so scared, but he just had to do it.

      “Ok, whatever you say,” said Sandra.

      “I think I should be going to bed, tomorrow I’m sure to have a very interesting day,” said Justin yawning.

      “What, you want me to tuck you in too,” answered Sandra, they both laughed. And with just a hug they parted their ways.


                                                ☼      ☼        ☼

      The night was cool with pleasant winds. Nightly insects could be heard singing their nocturnal tunes. The moon seemed to be directly upon the house, lighting everything around it. Even though there was sound and life outside the house, everything was still. Not a movement could be seen, except the occasional wind moving some trees.

      Justin was sleeping in his bedroom, as well as everybody in the house. He dreamt of that horrible night, and others like it too, shivering in his sleep. But he was so sound asleep that he thought nothing could wake him up. That’s until…. Click.The sound made him twitch a little bit. Click. This time he opened his eyes. Click. He sat on his bed, looking around the dark room. Everything seemed normal. Click. Was it some drops falling? Click. No, that was too hard to be that. Click. He looked sideways. It appeared to be coming form the window. Something hitting it, a twig maybe? Click. He got to the window, worried, and surveyed the ground below. Click. He jumped back as a pebble hit the window, startled. He then realized who it was. Smiling wide and happy he got to the window and opened it up. He stuck hi head outside the window. Clung!

      “Ouch!” a pebble went directly to Justin’s face.

      “Sorry!” said familiar voice, but it wasn’t Sandra’s.

      “I knew it was you,” said Justin in a cheerful tone.

      His heart started racing with joy as he got dressed and climbed down from his bedroom. When he stepped on the ground he thought nothing could bring him down.

      In front of him was a boy, almost his age. He had blond hair and hazel eyes. He was almost as tall as Justin.

      “Who did you get in?” asked Justin.

      “Well, climbing the fence, of course!” said the stranger boy.

      “I really needed you tonight, you know that Mark?”

      “I needed you too.”

      They walked towards the side of the house and sat in the same bench as Justin and Sandra did.

      “So, are you going to do it?” asked Mark.

      “You know I will.”

      “You know the consequences, right?”

      “Of course I do, but I just want to get this weight out of my chest.”

      “Well, whatever you decide, I want you to know I’m rooting for you always.”

      “Thanks.”

      “So, have you given your father any clue yet as to what you’re going to do?”

      “No, I’m keeping it a surprise.”

      “He’s going to have the surprise of a life time!”

      “True that!”

      They both laughed. They kept talking about the past, the present and future; about their friends and school. About everything they could come up with. They told each other their problems, just letting them flow out of them, making them feel more relaxed with themselves.

      A good two hours passed since they started talking.

      “I should get home, Justin,” Mark gave the bad news.

      “No, please, don’t go!” pleaded Justin.

      “I have to; my mom thinks I’m in Sandra’s house.”

      “But, can’t you stay a little bit longer, please?”

      “Sorry…” said Mark, looking down on his feet.

      “Don’t worry; it’s just that I’m so scared. I think tomorrow I’m going to be killed after I tell my dad.” They laughed. “And, if this was my last night here on earth, I wanted it to be a special one.”

      “Don’t say that Justin. This is not going to be your last night. I promise.”

      “I’m sure it won’t!” They laughed.

      Something happened that moment, a spark of some sort. But you couldn’t see that spark, for it was in the eyes of a person. They found themselves looking directly into each others eyes. What was going on? None of them could explain it. Then, in one fast, but sweet movement, Justin leaned forward and kissed Mark. He felt as happy as never. His heart wanted to get out of his chest. They hugged while kissing. Afterwards they looked at one another, a smile in their faces. They got up and Mark walked Justin to the wall he was to climb to get to his room. They went holding hands.


      “Are you ready to tell your father the truth about us?” asked Mark.

      “Yes”

      “Well then, have pleasant dreams and good luck tomorrow.”

      They kissed again. Later Mark started walking towards the fence.

      “Bye,” said Mark.

      “Bye, I love you!” replied Justin. He climbed to his room and slept with a smile on his face. 

                                                ☼      ☼        ☼


              The next day passed with joy. Everything in the house seemed to be happy with Justin. Last night’s event made it easier for him to tell his father. Not only his father, but his whole family.

      It was ten of the night; the whole family was at the dinner table. In one end of the table was Justin; in the other was his father. Justin thought he looked like an ogre; ugly and almost bald. It disgusted Justin to see him eating like a slob without any manners.

      When everyone finished eating, it was time to put the plan in action. He got up, his heart was racing, and he was sweating. “Ahem” was the fist thing that came out of his mouth, with this he took the attention of everybody at the table.

      “Well, today’s the first of July, my father’s birthday. And I wanted to give him a very social gift. It’s not a concrete gift, is a gift of words. There’s been something I’ve wanted to tell you.”

      Everybody at the table shot weird looks towards him, especially his father. But his seemed more of an angry look.

      “Um, I just feel that, as my family, you should all know me. That’s why I’m telling you this. Mom, dad, everyone…” He felt like fainting for a moment. “I’m gay.”

      Silence befell on the table; expressions of shock could be seen with ease, and heavy breathing could be heard from the other end of the table.

      “What did you say, boy?” said the father, he was turning red, and veins could be seen trying to burst on his head.

      “I don’t have to repeat my self, there I said it,” said Justin.

      “Get the hell out of my house,” said the father, pointing to the door.

      “But…” tried to explain Justin.

      “NOW!” said the father while getting up from the table and running towards him.

      With a scream Justin ran towards the door; everyone in the table started screaming too. Justin opened the door and ran outside, hoping his legs where fast enough so that he could reach the fence. He looked back; his father was hot in pursuit, with some kind of club in his hands, maybe a bat. At this sight, Justin’s legs started to run like never before.

      “I won’t have a faggot for a son!” yelled his father.

              From now you won’t even have a son, thought Justin. As his thoughts, body and heart rant fast, he fell. He was doomed.

      His father caught up and observed him for a while.

      “I always knew you where a sissy,” insulted his father.

      “Love doesn’t have to be black and white; it can be colorful and pure. There’s nothing more wonderful than falling in love with a person that loves you back for who you are.”

      At this words his father stroke him in the face.

      “You’ll never understand love,” continued Justin. “You won’t ever love for real. You’ll just pretend to love, like so many of your kind do! You’re nothing but a player and a bad father!”

      His father lifted the bat, and at the second he was going to strike Justin with it, a pebble landed on his face.

      “Leave my boyfriend alone!” yelled a familiar voice. It was Mark; he was standing with a bunch of rocks in his hands. At the sound of the word “boyfriend”, Justin’s father’s blood started rushing for his head. He was now going towards Mark.

      “You better leave my boyfriends alone!” said another familiar voice. This time it was Sandra, she was standing with her arms on her back.

      Justin’s father gave a chuckle and went back to Justin. It was inevitable; Justin’s father lifted the bat yet again and started hitting Justin. Justin was screaming in pain. Then there was aloud sound and Justin’s father dropped screaming on the ground, holding his legs. Justin looked towards Mark, Mark was looking towards Sandra. When Justin changed his view, he saw Sandra with a video camera, filming and Sandra’s mother beside her. She was carrying a gun, she was a policewoman. She had shot Justin’s father in the leg. Everyone ran towards Justin, which was still on the floor.

      “Are you okay?” asked Sandra’s mom.

      “Yeah, just a few lousy bruises,” answered Justin.


      “Thank goodness you’re all right!” said Sandra while hugging him.

      “Careful, I said lousy bruises, but they still hurt!” They all laughed.

      “We’re going to take your father in, he’s going to be a really long time behind the bars,” said Sandra’s mother.

      “And that’s just the beginning, wait till I tell you about the past,” said Justin.

      “You sure you’re ok?” asked Mark.

      “Yeah, I’m sure.”

      “I was scared for you.”

      “And I was scared for you too.”

              They repeated the spark in their eyes form last night. Justin looked towards the house; his mom was standing in the doorway, nodding her head as of approval. Justin and Mark smiled. While Sandra’s mom took the father away, Justin and Mark kissed again, but this time on the sunny paradise of the secluded house. Birds could be heard singing from afar and little clouds releasing mist came into view. There Mother Nature worked her miracles and made a beautiful rainbow. Justin got what he wanted, happiness and acceptance for who he was. Now he didn’t have to live the black and white love, he didn’t have to live the colorful love; he was living his own love….