Dan

Dan combed his fingers nervously through his auburn-brown hair. It had grown out a bit and now reached his mid-neck, not quite at his shoulders. His hair was straightened against his face, almost covering an eye. It was graduation. Dan had never dreamed he would graduate as a boy and go to college as himself, much less have a more-or-less open family.

“Daniel!” his Mum called, “Don’t be late!”

Dan put on his favourite pair of grey Calvin Klein boxers, a grey button-down, and black pants. He tripped over his long legs as he ran downstairs to eat. He felt an odd sense of happiness mixed in with his anxiety. He was moving on with his life. He wasn’t “Danielle turned Dan”, he wasn’t “Dan that trans guy”, he was just Dan; trying to be himself, and that’s what mattered.

James

James and Oliver walked quietly, looking at the beautiful white snow that shimmered even in the dark evening. They both wore knit sweaters and James wore a scarf. They talked and giggled until James came to an abrupt stop.

“Why?”

“Why what?” Oliver asked, startled.

“Why do you put up with me? I’m worthless and stupid!”

“James!” Oliver said, shocked that his boyfriend would ever think this way, “I love you and you are kind and smart, not to mention beautiful” Oliver said, blushing when he realized the last few words that had just slipped out of his mouth. Embarrassed, he kissed James’ cheek. James turned away, and suddenly, he felt himself break. He started shaking with sobs. He felt empty and worthless; all feelings of self-hatred that he had tried to ignore, crashed over him. Suddenly, he felt a gentle pair of arms around him. Oliver did not speak, but as James tried to pull away, Oliver held him tighter, tears wetting his face too. He hugged James, holding him sturdy. Eventually, James took a deep, shaky breath. After what seemed like forever, finally, Oliver spoke,

“You are so worth it, James. I promise with all my heart, you are worth it and you are valid,” Oliver turned James toward him, and tilted James’ face up to meet his eyes,“And I love you…”

James leaned into Oliver, burying his head in Oliver’s chest, near his neck, and tried to steady his breathing, “I-I love you too,” he mumbled under his breath. Despite himself, he felt a blush heating his face.

Oliver absentmindedly stroked through James’ dark hair with his fingers. Comforted by Oliver’s warmth and sincerity, James eventually looked up. Though neither spoke, millions of words passed between them. James gazed into the pools of dark amber that were Oliver’s eyes. A jumble of emotions whirled together. Oliver kissed the frozen tears from James’ cheeks caringly and lovingly, his velvet-soft lips, peppering James’ face with feather-gentle kisses. James almost smiled.

“Let’s go back inside and have hot chocolate okay?”

James nodded, and they walked back together, hand in hand. Oliver slowly kissed away a snowflake from James’ bottom lip, and both boys stumbled and laughed. Once again, they giggled; they were young and in love, and in that moment that was all that mattered.