Coming out

"You can't tell Mom what I'm about to tell you," I make him promise, "It's nothing bad, I just don't trust her."

"I get that," He agrees, "I won't tell her. Promise. I get it's personal and you don't trust her. I get what you're saying, so don't stress about it."

"Ok," I sigh a breath of relief, "that's good to hear. Anyway, the thing I'm trying to tell you..." I keep stuttering and stumbling like the nervous and awkward bitch I am. "Well, you see, I-I just, I am..." I stop and take a deep breath, calming myself, and say, "I'm lesbian. So, I like girls and only girls. I'm pretty much gay."

"Oh," He seems a little surprised, but after thinking about it, he sees it. "I get that, I see that. I support you. In fact, I wouldn't trust you with a boy anyway."

I laugh it off, he's just kidding and I find it funny anyway. "Haha, typical Dad. But yeah, I see you being into girls. I think it's normal and fine, you should be yourself. So that means you should be able to love whoever you want."

"R-really?" Now my emotional ass is about to start crying, but why now? I'm not sad. "You mean it?"

He just looks at me seriously and says, "Yeah, I mean it kiddo. I also get why you don't want me to tell your mother, she wouldn't approve. Your secret is safe with me."

"Really?" Why am I asking again? Well, I just really can't believe it. Mom wouldn't approve, but I feel like Dad loves me, unlike Mom. I just feel so loved and accepted, and it's hella great. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too kiddo, I hope you always know that. I'll never leave you, I'll always support you."

"Thanks, Dad. You have no idea how much this means to me."

He gets up and walks up to me. He hugs me and says, "I can only guess, but I'm just doing what I'm supposed to. You're my daughter and an amazing person, how can I not love and support you?"

Well shit, I'm crying now. "T-thanks Dad, I love you so much, thank you so much."

"Anytime, kiddo. I'm here for you. I will always love you, no matter what you may do, or what Mom might say. I love you for you. I will always be here for you."

I'm sobbing now, and not the pretty way. How can people even cry pretty? Whatever, that's not important now. "Dad, thank you. Thank you for being here for me. I can never say that enough. I love you too." I hug him harder, crying into his shoulder. He just pats my head, stroking my hair.

"Well, kiddo," He breaks the hug and hands me a couple of tissues, "visiting hours are almost over and I need to call your mother. I won't tell her you're lesbian, that's private. It's just to see where's she at and stuff. It's mostly business stuff, it's not that important. Just, don't worry about it kiddo. I'll try to see if I can come tomorrow, both I and your mother work tomorrow and Sunday, so I'm going to see if I can get a break while visiting hours are up. But, I'll definitely visit you next weekend when I don't work, if you're still in the hospital. I just hope you're not."

"Me too, I also hope Laureen is at least ok."

"By the way kiddo, I have a question for you?"

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Do you like Laureen?" This again?