Blood Lovers Extract

“Tamir, I saved you because I thought you could do with a good friend. I hate to see human life wasted. I thought I could help you.” He stepped forward hesitantly, and Tamir folded into his arms, crying into his chest. “I want to show you the good side of life,” he said in his quiet, soothing voice, smoothing Tamir’s hair and rocking him gently. “I want to show you that there is always something worth living for.”

always, be yourself. Your parents weren’t worth shit to abandon someone as amazing as you are, just because you’re different. So you know what you’re going to do?”

“When my parents found out that—that I’m gay, that I found men more attractive than girls, they threw me out of the house.” Tamir sniffed, clinging to Vidar’s chest, giving into the urge to tell Vidar about everything. “When they found out my sister was still talking to me, they moved away. I was seventeen.”

“You’re older than that now,” Vidar murmured, stroking Tamir’s back. “You survived for years on your own.”

Tamir nodded, pulling back. “I still hear what they said to me, just before they closed the door in my face. I still see the hate, the anger of their reaction. I will always remember how they looked at me. Like I wasn’t normal.” He sighed, rubbing at his eyes. “I just get so lost sometimes. I wonder if, if I could change myself, would they accept me back? Or would it be better for me to live as who I am, instead of changing to be who they want me to be? Should I be me, or should I be someone else?”

“Tamir,” Vidar whispered, stepping back. He held Tamir’s shoulders at arm’s length, to look Tamir in the eye. “You should always,

Tamir shook his head, wiping his eyes. “No.”

“You’re going to prove them wrong.” Vidar smiled at Tamir and took his hand. “You’re going to be exactly who you are, and you’re going to show them that there’s nothing bad about being gay, or different, or anything.” He squeezed Tamir’s hand and was rewarded by a small, uncertain smile.