Angel walked along the beach, the soft sand beneath her feet and the sound of the waves filling her ears. She gazed out at the water, the moonlight reflecting off its surface like a mirror. It was as if she were in a different world, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She felt a sense of peace and tranquility wash over her, and she took a deep breath, savoring the moment.
Angel was raised in a small town, surrounded by friendly neighbors and a church that always seemed to be a part of her life. Though she sometimes felt stifled by the expectations of being a preacher's daughter, she also found comfort in the familiarity of her small community. She had her struggles, of course, but overall, her life was filled with people who cared for her and a home that was filled with love.
Angel's family had always expected her to be a model churchgoer. But, as a child, she had been rebellious and angry. Now, as an adult, Angel still felt that weight of expectation, but she no longer knew how to meet it. Sometimes, her frustration boiled over, and she lashed out at those around her. Even though she knew it was wrong, she couldn't seem to stop herself. Was there any way for her to change?
"Angelica, we have a responsibility to demonstrate love towards our neighbors. This situation presented a chance for you to educate your classmate on our beliefs, with the hope that she too may find the path to salvation." The exact words her mom said to her when she once slapped her classmate.
Angel closed her eyes, her fingers gripping the fork tightly. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her thoughts. She opened her eyes to look at her sister, Esther, who was sitting across from her. Esther looked at her with a pleading expression, her eyebrows furrowed, and Angel knew what she was thinking. 'Please, don't start an argument.' The sisters had always been different, and Angel often felt like Esther was the 'good' sister while she was the 'troublemaker.' How could they come from the same family and be so different
Her parents' undeniable love for her was expressed through their strict principles aimed at instilling values in a world that seemed to be descending into chaos. However, Angel, characterized by an unwavering nature, seemed to be made of a different material, becoming increasingly resistant to external attempts to manipulate her.
During her time in junior high, she began cutting the legs off her jeans and concealing the cutoffs beneath her skirt. Being taller than her peers, this new display of skin caught the attention of the star lacrosse player, who accompanied her home one day and kissed her near her mailbox.
Disappointing in many respects, his teeth collided with hers as he impatiently forced his way into her mouth. Angel distinctly remembered feeling that she could do without so much saliva as she nervously giggled and glanced down at her feet, waiting for him to leave. Whatever she had anticipated, that certainly wasn't it.
The sight of her mother's face, locked onto her from behind the kitchen window, conveyed deep disappointment. It turned out that Esther's ballet practice had been canceled that afternoon, and both her mother and sister were home early.
The following year, they enrolled her in a private school, where she quickly formed a close bond with Ruth, another new student who had recently relocated across the country due to her father's job transfer. The two of them would exchange notes during class, and Angel would attentively listen as Ruth shared details about her latest crushes.
One day, while sitting across from each other at the cafeteria table, Ruth asked, "Why don't you ever tell me who you like? I'm always pouring my heart out, but you never share anything."
Angel found herself captivated as Ruth giggled, scrunching her nose, her rosy cheeks adorned with freckles peeking out from beneath her blonde bangs. Ruth swiftly pulled out a tube of strawberry lip gloss and generously applied it, waiting for Angel's response. Angel wondered if those lips would offer a more pleasant experience compared to her previous encounters, silently coming to an obvious conclusion. "I don't know, I guess I'm not that interested in the boys at this school," she replied, attempting to sound casual.
Ruth suggested, "How about I arrange a double date for us? Sam asked me out this morning, and I said I'd think about it. Why don't I tell him I'll go if he brings a friend for you?"
She sat there with a lot emotions going through her mind, how would she tell her she's not attracted to men, that's she's attracted to her?.