Love Unfolding 89 Family Gathering

ERIKA LEIGH PARLAM

I darted around the apartment looking for my keys.

'Just where the heck I put them?'

I frantically just woke up about a couple of minutes ago, hurriedly took a shower and got dressed as the clock was ticking nonstop.

Glancing at the clock on the bedside table, it reads 11:30 in the morning and I have lunch date with my family by 12:00 noon.

'Wow'

Just what did I do to wake up this late?

'Ugh'

Right, we did it last night.

'd.a.m.n'

I leapt my way back to the bedroom where Andy was still lying in bed but I know she's awake already.

"Love, I'm leaving." I called as I reached the door.

She groaned, "Come here."

I sat by the side of the bed and brought my face to her so I could kiss her.

"I'll be back by evening." I informed.

She just nodded while her eyes still closed.

"I love you." She mumbled.

"You better."

Then I hurriedly went out the apartment.

[*********]

I arrived in the restaurant a little too late. They have reserved a private room for this family gathering of ours.

I smiled wryly to everyone as I took a seat.

Gathering around were my mother's two siblings along with their family members.

There was Mei, with her Mom and Dad; her mother as my mother's younger sister.

There was Jimmy too along with his younger sister, Monique. Of course with their parents too; his father as mom's big brother.

Right, his father as somewhat the family head. I don't know why though, maybe because he is the eldest or just that he earned more than anyone in the house.

'Tsk'

Then there was me, with my Mom and Dad.

There's supposed to be one more, Mei's big sister Alex but unfortunately, she was vanished in the family.

Yeah, vanished.

So the chit chat went on as we ate. The adults were focus on the topic in 'business' and I would just casually answer every question thrown at me and then it went on and on.

[*********]

As I got back home, I saw Andy watching TV by the living room. She looked up on me with a smile.

"I'm about to die from boredom." She stated.

I let out a small laugh then joined her on the couch. She wrapped her arm around my waist and I rested my head on her shoulder.

"A bad day?" She softly asked.

"Not really."

Then there was silence.

She held my shoulders and pushed me away a little. Then two deep brown eyes found mine.

Of all the time I have spent with Andy, she really knew me by now. There seemed not anything I can hide anymore.

Her eyes grew soft, she knew I was holding back something.

I sighed then I rested my head back to her shoulder while absorbing the warm of her embrace.

"Tell me." She said; her voice comforting like telling me I can depend on her.

I groaned.

"I have missed Alex." I started.

"Hmmm, who's that?"

"Ex Boyfriend?"

I slightly poked her side.

"Mei's big sister." I answered.

"She was vanished in the family." I added.

I felt Andy's hold tightened.

"Why is that?" She asked curiously.

"Because she came out… as gay."

There was silence… again.

"I was young back then." I begun.

"The most frightening and painful thing in the world is not a sword or a gun, it's words."

"I could still remember those hateful words thrown at her by Jimmy's father… and even my mother's.

"A filth, a f.a.ggot, an immoral… those are just a few."

"Not to mention those detestable gazes from everyone like she's kind of pest in their eyes."

Then without me noticing, a tear fell down from my eyes and I begun to sob.

Andy just held me tighter.

"I will wait for you." She a.s.sured.

"Know that if you've gathered the courage, I will stand beside you."

"I will fight with you."

She cupped my face and kissed me. It was warm, pa.s.sionate.

"You won't be alone."

Then she hugged me like I'm a fragile kitten.

Just the warm I needed.