Last night Aaron and I went for a walk in the Grasslands. We looked at the stars. I pointed out a few planets, some stars, ancient constellations. Found a galaxy with the naked eye.
He asked me questions about what its like being gay.
I asked him what it was like being straight.
He told me about his loneliness. I told him of mine.
He told me I deserved somebody special. I told him the same.
Just a classic conversation between friends who are getting ready to say goodbye.
I realized that somehow, as a product of some completely unlikely friendship between two people who have no reason to have met, I was talking about being gay in Val Marie. I was honestly talking about the struggles of being a young gay man in Val Marie. Somebody was actually listening to me. It wasn't while I was alone. I wasn't silently crying in my bedroom, or looking for serious emotional support. I was talking about who I am - and I was helping him discover what a gay man can be.
I was happy; almost proud of who I was.
And I woke up this morning with a smile.
That simple conversation changed how I exist on this planet of Val Marie.
I wonder if he knows that...
