Synopsis: A young girl has a secret, but her parents already knew.
Author's Note: Happy Pride Month everyone! Wrote this on the spur of the moment, so I hope it's okay.
βοΈ Looking for something else? Go to the bookshelf! βοΈ
βMom. Dad. I have to tell you something.β
My mother looked up from her mystery novel, and my father turned away from the boxing match on TV.
βAlright,β my father said calmly as he turned the TV off and my mom bookmarked her spot. βPop a squat.β He pointed to the recliner across from the loveseat they occupied.
Obediently, I took a seat, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees and took a deep breath. I rubbed my hands together anxiously and kept my eyes glued to the floor.
How am I supposed to do this? I thought.
A full minute probably passed as I sat there thinking of how I was going to tell my parents this secret Iβd been holding onto, and thankfully, they sat there patiently, giving me time to get my thoughts together. I thought about changing my mind and telling them Iβd say what Iβd have to say another day, or just say, βJust kidding!β But I knew that wouldnβt be too convincing and make them worry even more. So, I knew I had to go through with it.
βWell,β I began slowly, βthereβs something that Iβve been hiding from you guys that I think you should know.β At this, my parents sat up very straight. βItβs not bad. Well, some people think itβs bad, and some people donβt, but I donβt consider it bad. I just hope you guys donβt think so either.β
My mother and father glanced at each other, concern splayed across on their faces.
βAlright,β my father said nodding.
Thatβs all he said. Alright. I started to tremble all over. I wanted to throw in the towel and run away, but Iβd already opened the can of worms, so I knew there was no turning back.
βMom, Dad, Iβm a lesbian!β I blurted out, not knowing where that came from. βAnd Iβve been this way for as long as I can remember. I-I hope that youβll still love and accept me with this new information, and if you have any questions, Iβll be in my room!β
Without the courage to wait for their response, I jumped out of the recliner, ran to my room, and locked the door. If they were going to be sad or mad, theyβd have to experience those emotions without my presence. I just couldnβt take the rejection. Sure, my parents werenβt super conservative, but they were semi-religious, and I had a feeling that they wouldnβt like the lesbian lifestyle I just informed them in which Iβm a part of.
Tears started to flow from my eyes while I sat on my bedroom floor when I heard a knock on the door.
βPudding pie,β my father called as he twisted the locked door handle, βpudding pie, open up.β
βI-I canβt!β I sobbed.
βDoll,β my mother spoke, βcome to the door so we can talk.β
βNo, I canβt!β I sobbed even louder.
βWe already knew, pudding pie. We already knew,β my father informed me on the other side of the door. βI donβt care if youβre a lesbian or a little green alien, youβre my daughter, and Iβm gonna love you regardless.β
My mother agreed. βThatβs right.β
They knew. They already knew. How did they know?
I stood up slowly and walked over to the door. I unlocked it and cracked it open. βHow did you know?β I asked.
My parents looked at each other. βWell, youβve never mentioned a boyfriend, and seem to like Jacqueline a lot,β my mother said.
βB-But Jacqueline is just a friend,β I told them.
My mother nodded. βYeah, a very queer friend,β she pointed out.
βOh, yeah. S-She is.β
βAnd when we came back from dinner the other night and turned the TV on, we saw what youβd been watching β¦ uh β¦ on the Netflix,β my father added.
Fuuuck! I screamed internally, remembering that I was watching The L Word and Imagine Me & You and forgot to erase my watch history because my very queer friendβas my mother put itβJackie called and asked if I wanted to get Shake Shack. Damn my burger and milkshake addiction!
βOh,β I whispered. It was all I could say.
A moment of silence passed between us before my mother spoke up again. βDid you hear us, doll? Itβs okay. We know, and itβs okay. Weβre fine with it. We love you.β
βYes, we love you, pudding pie! To the moon and back!β my father added.
My parents didnβt care, and they still loved me. Whoa! The relief that washed over me was so intense my knees went weak, and I almost toppled over. My father pushed the door open and steadied me.
βI gotcha, pudding! I gotcha! Itβs okay, itβs okay!β He held me tight and rubbed my back, and my mother rubbed my head.
βI was so scared!β I sobbed into my fatherβs chest.
βDonβt be, baby. Weβre your parents, not psychos,β my mother laughed.
All I could say was okay as I continued to sob into my fatherβs chest. I felt there was much to unpack, but I didnβt have the wherewithal or the energy to do it. So, I told myself that Iβd cry today and talk more tomorrow.
βBut if Jacqueline canβt love and take care of you like I do or better, dump her!β my father exclaimed.
βDad, weβre just friends!β
Credit for dividers to @cafekitsune ππ€π©·
βWe Already Knewβ Β© 2026 by Toni D
All rights reserved. No part of this written work may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author. Do not repost, translate, plagiarize or otherwise repurpose.
