“I was in shock, unable to react. I was afraid my uncle would become violent, and the last thing I wanted was to provoke him into action."
I couldn’t believe what David was telling me. I didn’t remember much of Mário other than he was always at the café and seemed like a nice man. He used to sneak us treats when we were kids. I didn’t recognize this version of the same man, but then I remembered the feeling in my gut when I met him that first night at the café during the family dinner.
"I was only eighteen, and while I was self-sufficient at home, I didn’t have any life experience. I’d never even had a boyfriend," David explained. “My uncle said it would break my aunt’s heart if she found out about it. I didn’t want to believe him, but after his reaction that evening, I wasn’t sure my aunt wouldn’t be the same. I couldn’t even lie and say it was a misunderstanding because while nothing had happened with Isaac and we were just friends, the truth was that I was gay. I didn’t confirm it, but I also didn’t want to lie.”
“You don’t have to justify it. My parents and my family accepted me, but I am not immune to homophobia, and I have some friends whose parents weren’t as accepting.” I couldn’t know how it felt to be in his shoes, but I wanted him to share this burden he’d been carrying for so long. “What happened to Isaac?”
“I spent the whole week looking for him. He’d left his parents’ with very little, and my uncle didn’t let him grab his stuff before throwing him out of my apartment. I tried to chase after him but couldn’t find him. His brother was going crazy, looking everywhere he could think of as well.” David looked upset as he recounted the events, but I let him do it without interruption.
“That first night, he didn’t know what to do, so he went to the bus station hoping to feel safer with people around. He ended up being punched by a man who wanted Isaac to blow him and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I went to the bus station the next day, but as it turned out, I missed him by hours. I found him a week later in the field near our school. There was an old bus shelter that wasn’t in use anymore, and that’s where he had been. He’d lived on scraps of food he’d found in supermarket trash containers. He’d tried to look for a job, but without any clean clothes or a chance to bathe, no one looked at him twice. I brought him home with me and made him stay until he got on his feet. I changed the locks to the apartment too.”
“You are a good man, David. Not many people would have been that brave.”
“I was a coward, still am. I’m afraid to tell my aunt, even though I think she will be okay with it. The fear that she might not be is stopping me from telling her.”
“It’s okay. You’ll figure it out,” I said reassuringly. “I don’t think either of us should be alone tonight. What do you say we go back to your place and watch trash TV? Maybe even read more of the journal if you want?”
“My place, huh?” he asked.
Maybe it was wrong of me to invite myself over to his apartment, but his place felt more homely than mine. Tonight, we both needed to feel at home.
“Yep, you have ingredients. Ingredients equal cake.” I grinned.
David chuckled in disbelief but gave me a quick hug and got the car started.
