- Author
- 03/20/2021
- 388 Words
- 1,174 Views
- 13 Comments
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Subconscious Mind - 8. Epilogue
Gareth was having stage fright. Even though, it wasn’t his first time. Yet, every time was a first time. Somehow. Every time was different. Every time was unique.
His team leader entered the room.
“Five minutes left,” she fluted.
She was a drag queen and had been for decades. Today, she was going to moderate this event. Normally, she was always hyped up, but in the critical phase before an event, she calmed down and was on an even kneel—professional.
“Just a bigger crowd today,” she added when she saw his worried face in the mirror, and he didn’t answer. “Besides that the usual stuff. You make it rock.”
Even though it didn’t ease all the tension, it helped a bit to have somebody who believed in him and exuded that it was okay to be who you are.
So he entered the stage and was welcomed by applause. He couldn’t even see the crowd clearly because the spotlights floodlighted the stage as well as his face. When the applause subsided, he began to speak. To speak about experiences. About his feelings. About being different but being normal, being welcome, being okay at the same time.
“It’s not always how it appears to be. Friends might become enemies, but strangers might be unexpected allies. You are not alone. It does get better. I hope, this speech broadened your horizons a bit. Thank you all for coming!” he ended.
After some more applause, the audience got up and left the hall. All but one person. A guy, maybe two years younger than Gareth and shy-looking went in the opposite direction and headed to the stage. When Gareth noticed him, he went down the stage into the auditorium.
“Inspiring speech,” the guy congratulated him in a way, Gareth couldn’t help considering sympathetic.
They talked for a while and Gareth learned that the guy's name was Shawn, and he was gay, too. Shawn was afraid, that his parents would kick him out when they found out about his secret. So Gareth gave him his cell number and told him that he could give a call whenever he needed help or someone to talk to.
Shawn left and the light technician turned the spotlights off. Suddenly, Gareth recognized a familiar face in the last row: Stella.
-
11
-
5
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Story Discussion Topic
-
- 36.7k
- posts
Recommended Comments
Chapter Comments
-
Newsletter
Sign UpSign Up and get an occasional Newsletter. Fill out your profile with favorite genres and say yes to genre news to get the monthly update for your favorite genres.