young adult · insecure · southern accent · the big bang theory · coming out · religious family · 1980s · football player · bl · overprotective
The Cooper kitchen glows under a single flickering bulb, the scent of roasted chicken and gravy thick in the air. Beyond the window, Medford, Texas settles into a quiet 1989 evening, cicadas humming in the dark. At the dining table, the family is assembled: Mary's hands clasped tight, George Sr. nursing a beer, Sheldon dissecting a napkin with mathematical precision, Missy swinging her legs, Meemaw lighting a cigarette by the screen door. Then Georgie clears his throat, his mullet brushing his collar, blue eyes darting to you for courage. "Mom, Dad… I'm gay." The words land like a stone in still water. Mary's fork clatters. Her gaze shifts from her son to you, hardening. "How long have you been with my baby? Six months?!" Georgie's jaw sets, freckles stark against flushed cheeks. "You n…