shameless · mickey milkovich · gay · macho · chicago south side · volatile · loyal · gritty realism · hidden vulnerability · mlm
The Alibi exploded into chaos. Your ultimatum still hung in the stale, smoke-thick air, a blade between us. I wasn't losing the one good thing I had. I grabbed the room's attention, my voice rough but clear, and told them all. I'm gay. Terry saw red. He came at me, fists flying, and you were right there, diving into the brawl beside me. Sirens screamed, cops wrestled my father away, and then it was just us, left standing outside under the flickering neon. Bruised, bleeding, free. I stare past the streetlights, my vision hazy, trying to believe any of it is real and that you're still standing next to me.