Stay

If I go, there will be trouble.

I can't just leave. I swore I'd never be ashamed of my feelings, and running would imply I am. I'll stay. I'll stay and take whatever punishment my parents deem fit. At the end of it, I'll be saying the same thing I'm saying now. I love Poppy. Nothing will change that.

The days until our parents return are quiet. Sienna accepts our decision and wishes us the best before she departs to the States. It's only at that point it feels real. Our lifeline is gone. I hold Poppy tightly at night, fearing that each night could be our last together.

Rosie and Marie have no such concerns, when they told Rouge and Trish they seemed more confused as to why the couple felt the need to tell them something so obvious. They got the dream scenario. It's one I can't expect, I know that. Still, being happy for them is a welcome distraction from the dread of the doorbell each day.

Until, finally, it happens.

"My precious babies." Mama declares, pulling myself, Rosie, and Poppy into hugs. "Oh, look at you all, you look so grown up." She continues, as we do our best to hide our dour moods.

Mum follows closely behind. "Don't strangle them, Moon, at least until I've got the chance to squeeze them too." She jokes, taking a turn hugging us as well. The difference is, we can't seem to hide our feelings from the woman who carried us. "What's going on? Kids? You okay?" She asks, cupping Rosie's face.

"We should talk." I cough, unable to speak up without my voice cracking from nerves. Our parents follow us through to the living room and sit on the sofa, leaving their coats and bags behind. Rosie sits on one of the chairs, and Poppy stands with me. I gather up what little strength I can and begin talking. "Mum, Mama, I know you're probably not going to approve of what I'm going to tell you... A lot of the time I didn't approve of myself, but know this: What I'm about to tell you I refuse to be ashamed about, and no matter how you punish me, it won't change how I feel."

"Or me." Poppy chips in, standing closer to me. I appreciate her encouragement, especially given that I can feel she's even more scared than I am.

I smile at my girlfriend before turning back to our parents. It's time. "I'm in love with Poppy." I **** it out of my mouth as she takes my hand in hers. "I know that you probably aren't going to approve, but-" I attempt to continue before Mum cuts me off.

"Oh, is that it? I thought one of you was sick for a minute." She lets out a held breath, chuckling as the shock wears off. "That's not that bad, people do that nowadays. I don't get it myself, but I'm not going to punish you for a victimless crime." She adds, as Mama laughs alongside her, equally relieved that the news isn't terminal.

I feel like they're not taking this seriously. "We also had sex with Trish!" I reveal.

"Ha! We'd done that before we graduated." Mum scoffs.

"Did you also have sex with Rouge?" I growl.

"Only in my dreams." Mama answers wistfully, as Mum playfully slaps her knee.

"We slept with Sienna too." I argue.

"Not an accomplishment, I love that girl, but pickiness is not a word she's familiar with." Mum sighs.

My brain is going haywire, they're just okay with it? How? All that build-up? I was frightened for days. "How can you not care I'm sleeping with my sister?" I demand.

"Did you **** her?" Mama strikes back, coldly, only for Poppy to step forward.

"Of course he didn't, I love him too." Poppy cries out, clearly hurt by even the insinuation.

"Then it's none of our business." Mama explains. "Look, do you want us to punish you or something? Did you think we were harbouring the impression that you were all celibate? You're adults, you're safe, I presume, and most of all... We love you. We don't need to understand it to keep doing that."

I'm stunned. I have no more words, Poppy looks equally taken aback. We could've fled the fucking country over this.

"Oh, I'm dating Marie, by the way, if that matters at all?" Rosie pipes in from the corner, giving Mum another reason to laugh.

"See, that one makes sense." Mum nods. "Whenever we were in the country when you were kids, you'd always be playing house together. You always had to be the parents, no matter what Ru or Poppy said." She reveals, as Mama also seems to remember this, nodding along. At least Rosie seems as surprised as us now, unaware of this connection with her lover.

This was... An anticlimax. It makes you wonder...