The rest of the way, he is silent. My enflamed body hurts, the bruises throb, the welts blossoming red and purple, but somehow, my mind is calm and resolute. I have faced death and it came to me as a blessing, a gift, my soul like flowing water. Somewhere deep inside, beneath the pain, the humiliation and degradation of these past four months, I feel free. I am finding the courage to act, one final act in which I will regain self-respect. I am a man, a brave and strong man, not a bonded servant. I will finally act and flame out like a man.
Soon this will all be over.
Of course, I would love your comments and thoughts. More important, as you watch and listen to those who threaten us, demeaning us for being gay (whether out or closeted as I am), I hope that you take the story seriously. I wrote this story to remind us that we take for granted, we can lose if we do not fight.