“Love is LOVE” By ANA MARIA VICTORINO
GRADE 9, KI PP CO O PER NO RC ROSS H I G H SC H O O L
“They’re right...” Emily sighed as she stared at her bland white ceiling thinking about what her friends said earlier. “Bi isn’t real. They’re just a bunch of confused people that don’t know what they want,” her friend Lily had said. Emily mumbled, “I’m just confused. I don’t know what I want,” as she looked at her unlocked phone with a background picture of her and Amy, her close friend. Amy was Emily’s first real friend, since just before second grade. She had short curly hair and loved to go to the amusement park. She was a fun person to be around but could also be very stubborn. It was around seventh grade when Emily started to notice that maybe Amy could be more than a friend. Emily rolled out of bed. “Maybe I just want to see what a relationship with a girl feels like when in reality, I like boys. I mean I didn’t date boys my whole life for no reason, did I?” she thought. She questioned how her friends would see her. Scared they would insult her just like they did with every other LGBTQ person, She heard their disgusting comments ring in her ears. A constant confusion. Constant battle with coming clean and telling her friends that they don’t accept the LGBTQ+ community. Their mean comments still rang in her ears. Emily: 11:31 AM: Hey bestie wyd? Want to grab some smoothies and talk Mia: 11:34 AM: Great !! be there in 10 :) Emily smiled and ran to her closet to get ready. She loved talking to Mia. Mia was the most supportive and understanding person in her life. She was the only person who truly knew her. Emily couldn’t wait to talk to her. Mia was Emily’s best friend but really more like her older sister. Mia loved to give Emily advice and always made Emily feel loved and understood. “You shouldn’t question yourself just because you’re scared of what other people think,” Mia said, frowning and shaking her head as she took another sip from her banana and strawberry smoothie. “Well, it’s not easy for me, knowing that half of my family won’t accept me, and our friends will probably laugh at me for being who I am,” said Emily.
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Mia sighed. “Sorry to tell you, but if you’re even questioning what your friends are going to say about you, they’re not real friends. If they were your real friends you wouldn’t question, they wouldn’t have to accept this, they would embrace it,” she said. Deep inside, Emily knew that Mia was right. But she wasn’t ready to accept it, she didn’t want to be seen differently than others. The setting sun made the park feel peaceful, calm. Emily fidgeted with her fingers as she patiently sat on an old bench, waiting for Amy. Her stomach churned as she stared at the smooth concrete floor. She looked up when she heard the sound of someone approaching. Emily smiled as Amy walked towards her. “Hey Emily!” Amy yelled as she smiled and ran to hug her. Emily felt safe as she held Amy in her arms. “Hi, Amy,” Emily managed to choke out. She felt like she was about to pass out because of how nervous she was. After all, Amy was part of her friend group and if everything went wrong, she would probably tell their friends about it. “What’s wrong, Emily?” Amy said, lowering her voice “Why do you look so nervous?” Amy looked down and looked around nervously. “Well nothing’s really wrong, I just need something to get off my chest.” Amy nodded as if waiting for Emily to say it. This. “I’m bi.” Everything went silent. Emily stared at Amy trying to read her face, her heartbeat exploding as she prepared. They both made eye contact then looked at the ground. Amy, smirking, finally said, “Well... that’s ok.” “Really...?” Emily asked as she looked up at Amy. “Of course!” Amy said with a warm smile. “Love is love.” Amy was right. Love is love no matter what, everyone has the right to love who they want. Emily hugged Amy and held her for what seemed like an hour. They both stood there, silently hugging each other as Emily’s problems seemed to disappear. The stress that she felt was no longer there. She felt safe and accepted.
