Will Byers did not break so easily. A 12 year old boy was stalked then kidnapped to an alternate dimension that resembled home yet did not quite understand the mechanics of this new strange world yet was able to survive a week by himself with no food no water just a rifle. For years he’s had to endure being a puppet to an evil that is incomprehensible. On top of that, was bullied by peers, ostracized by his home town and his father was verbally and possibly physically abusive to him.
He’s a gay boy growing up in the 80s and in love with his best friend who it seems is pining for another. All of his friends have somebody but he is the one who it seems will remain alone the rest of his life. He’s not going to fall in love. It’s not in the card for him to have that reciprocated love.
And despite all the abuse, the neglect, the supernatural, the looks, the rumors, the whispers, the bullying, will is a character that has remained true to his nature. someone that never wavered in his gentleness and sensitivity. the world isn’t made for souls like those and will continually try to bring down those who these traits are closely aligned with. despite all the horrors, both supernatural and his reality, will byers has remained the kind loyal and compassionate boy that we first became familiar with. he is not someone that broke easily and is not someone that will ever no matter how hard he is knocked down because there’s nothing braver in this world than never losing sight of who you are in the face of all the hardships you go through especially as young as he was and still is. there’s nothing braver than staring cosmic evil in the eye, an evil that has violated and stripped you of your autonomy and yelling for it to go away even when you know you’re fighting a losing battle
robin isn’t a wingman for byler. not right now at the very least. she’s done something so tremendously powerful. she has seen and heard will. this isn’t meant to imply nor indicate he’s not seen by mike or joyce or jonathan. but it’s this recurring faith she has in him after only briefly coming in contact with me. she believes in his capabilities because she’s been there before. she sees his desire to fly out of the nest that others seem so keen on keeping him confined to when it’s only restricting him and not doing him any good for his own development. she encourages him to do it even if he’s scared. I will admit while I was excited for their duo, I was not expecting to see them together this much nor did I think the chemistry with these characters would flow so well together but it was miles better than what I was expecting. she is everything will needs in this state of his life right now. she’s not only the reality that a life for a queer individual is possible in their era but that the ability to be free in yourself as a queer individual is possible.
In 7th grade I had hit rock bottom or at least what i considered rock bottom back then. my depression was at an all time high and was not going away. on top of that I was beginning to reel over my own sexuality after having repressed it for so long. I don’t want to go into too much detail over everything but I will say this. In the midst of it, when I finally let myself realize my sexuality, it felt like life was just.. better. I cant explain the feeling it gave me, but I remember feeling lighter. like I could float. it felt like I had solved my problems for just a minute. it was then when my self harm had come to a stop. I didn’t realize the impact the suppressing of my sexuality had had on me until I processed it. I didn’t realize how freeing it could feel to just let yourself.. be. to just be in a world that wants anything but.
none of this was articulated in a way that I appreciate but I hope someone reads this. I hope robins words and wills nature sparks an awakening in someone. middle school me was a devastated mess after this episode but for all the right reasons. in an increasing hostile and tense political climate, please, let yourself be. stay true to who you are and remember that life is too precious to keep yourself confined and chained.
