Chapter Text
Being queer in almost every way in this world is hard. I’m non-American, I speak different languages. That’s hard enough as is, but it gets worse. How?... You’ll see.
I’m 15. Graduation is coming, I’m happy about that. I get through everything because I know the end is coming, and because I have people to rely on. I’m walking to algebra, jumping and yelping when Silas, my lover, jumps up behind me. “Haru!” He yells, calling my name to me. I’m right here. No need to yell. In fact, I’ll say that. “Silas, I’m right here. No need to yell.” He laughs, grabbing at my hand. “Sorry, I just needed to make sure you’re with us. Earth to Haru,” He says, giggling a bit. I always found his laugh endearing. “Yeah, okay. I need to get to class, love,” I mutter, gripping my textbook a bit tighter. He sighs, backing away. “Alright, alright. I’ll see you after school, right?” His question rattles in my ears, and I just nod. The bell is about to ring. He smiles and waves while he walks to English. I go inside my algebra class, sitting i n my seat, directly at the back, adjusting my glasses. I accidentally grabbed my old pair this morning. Yeah, yeah, say I wasn’t paying attention, but I had one minute to get out the door! I was rushed! The teacher starts her lecture, and I stare at her name, written in neat letters. ‘Mrs. Bell’. She had always lived in America, unlike me.
After school, I sit on a bench outside the school. I’m reading The Spirit Bears Its Teeth, engrossed in the words, when I see a finger on top of the book, Silas’s dark skin greeting my eyes. I smile and put my bookmark in, standing back up to see his face and curly hair. His lazy eye shows a bit, then he focuses back on me. I laugh a bit. “Are you ever getting that eye fixed?” I question, to which he shakes his head and wags his finger, smiling. That cracks me up, and we laugh for a minute. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have his laugh to keep me company, as well as just… him in general. I sound so sappy, but it’s just honesty!
We went for a walk around town, and then went our separate ways, back home. I walk into my house, where my mom sits in the living room, on the couch. She looks at me, grumbling. “Boy, I need a smoke break, and then I need to go back to work. There’s stray ingredients in the fridge… Make it work, please. I’ll go shopping tomorrow.” I nod, muttering an incoherent noise, walking to my kitchen. She gets up, grabbing her cigarettes. “Oh, and I got this for you. Figured you’d want it,” She says, handing me a newspaper. I always liked crafting with newspapers after reading them. I smile, nodding at her. I love my mom.
I look at the top line. “New Plague Spreading in Flint, Michigan!” New plague? Is it a variant of a disease? I put down the paper. I would read the rest later. I open my fridge, grabbing cheese, then taking what was left of the bread loaf, making a grilled cheese. The landline rings, and I pick it up. “Hello, Haru Nakamura speaking,” I say. I had a phone of my own, as did my mother, Why didn’t they call our separate phones? I hear Silas on the other line. “Haru, my mom wants you to come to church with us this Sunday,” He mutters. I sigh, replying, “I don’t really want to meet your mom in any way. Isn’t she, like… super religious? She’d hate me.” Silas sighs heavily, I can hear it buzz in my ears. “Haru, she wants to be polite for once in her life, can’t you just... Go with it? For me?” His voice breaks me, and I mutter, “I’ll ask my mom when she gets back.” He thanks me quickly and hangs up the phone. I mumble, “Goodbye.” to the dead line, then hang up too. I sigh. Now, I better read that newspaper. It could be urgent.
I read the paper. The lines said, “New Plague Spreading in Flint, Michigan! The cause is unknown, but it is spreading like wildfire. Doctors are working quickly, attempting to find a cure, but until they have actual progress, this absolutely wretched disease is named “Plague of Extreme Spinal Transformation” or PEST. The diseased person starts with sores that look like bug bites. The bites become more exaggerated, making the victim’s veins show. At this point, the spine starts to grow bug-like limbs, oftenly spider legs. The body goes into paralysis while these limbs grow. Do not panic, just stay indoors as much as possible, and if there is even a chance you might be infected, report to the nearest hospital.”
Oh God. What might happen to my mom? My friends?... Silas? This is more severe than I originally thought. I sigh, knowing it will probably be resolved quickly, knowing the doctors here. I suppress my anxiety, going to my room and looking through my clothes. I own mostly suit jackets, flannels, and stray T-shirts. Other than that, there are a million pairs of beige pants, and a few pairs of shorts that I never wear. I also have a full suit, purple and black. I told Silas I’d give it to him soon. I’ll do that on Sunday, when we go to church. Ugh, church… Anything for Silas, I know he needs my company.
My mother walks in later, and I run up. “Momma, Silas wants me to go to church with him this Sunday, can I?” I ask, with my fingers intertwined. She looks at me. I hadn’t realized it while I was talking, but she was on the phone. She sighs and nods at me, going back to talking to who I presume is her boss. She works at a nail salon. She’s talking like she’s about to get fired, which she might be. I’m tired of this, momma.