Bloom woke up early, her pillow damp with tears. Sleep hadn't offered her the escape she'd hoped for. Her father's words from the night before still echoed in her mind, sharp and cutting. She wiped her face and glanced at the clock. 6:00 a.m. The house was quiet. Jessica and I were still sound asleep, the stillness of the morning giving her a brief moment of calm.

She made her way to the kitchen, her steps tentative. Mom was already there, sipping her coffee and reading the paper. The warm aroma of the brew filled the room. When she noticed Bloom, she smiled gently.

"You're up early," Mom said, setting her mug down. Her expression shifted when she saw the tears still glistening in Bloom's eyes. "Oh, sweetheart."

Bloom couldn't hold it in. The sobs came unbidden as Mom pulled her into a hug. "I just wish he could love me for who I am," Bloom whispered through the tears.

Mom stroked her hair, her voice soft. "Your father is struggling to understand, Bloom. Sometimes people lash out when they're scared or don't know how to cope."

"Why can't he just accept me?" Bloom cried, looking up at her. "Even my mother didn't defend me. Isn't she supposed to understand? Isn't she a lesbian?"

Mom hesitated, her grip on Bloom tightening. "Your mother loves you," she said carefully. "She didn't argue with him last night because she didn't want to make things worse. But that doesn't mean she doesn't care."

Mom moved to the cupboard and pulled out a box of Fruit Loops. "Come on, sit down. You need to eat something."

Bloom nibbled at her cereal, the colorful loops spinning lazily in the milk. She forced a smile when Mom commented on her politeness, but inside, her heart was heavy. After finishing her bowl, she excused herself and retreated to the living room, flipping on the TV. The cheerful music on the TV filled the room.

Hours passed, the morning bleeding into early afternoon. Jessica eventually wandered downstairs, groggy and yawning, and joined Bloom in front of the TV. The phone rang from the kitchen, breaking the monotony.

"Bloom, it's for you," Mom called out. "It's Jennifer. She says it's important."

Bloom hesitated, her hand trembling as she picked up the receiver. "Hello?" she said tentatively. The conversation started casually, but soon took a turn. Jennifer was stunned to hear about Bloom's transformation, and though Bloom tried to keep it lighthearted, the weight of her situation seeped through her words.

When she hung up, Bloom returned to the living room, her expression unreadable. "Jennifer wants to see us tomorrow," she said. "She... wants to see what I look like now."

Jessica barged into the room and shook me awake. I groaned, turning to glance at the clock. "It's only six in the morning," I grumbled, my voice muffled by the pillow.

Jessica smirked. "Try again. It's past one in the afternoon."

I shot up, startled. "Why didn't anyone wake me?" I exclaimed, glaring at Bloom, who stood in the doorway with a mischievous smile.

The moment quickly shifted. Bloom climbed onto My bed, giving me an affectionate hug. Without warning, Bloom leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. I froze, my heart was racing. The kiss was tender, innocent, but it left me breathless. I didn't push Bloom away. Instead, I let the moment linger, unsure of why it felt so right.

When Mom walked in, her amused chuckle broke the spell. "Well, isn't this sweet?" she said, smirking as we turned beet red. Jessica followed shortly after, her expression one of wide-eyed shock.

"Jamie, are you... a lesbian?" Jessica asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

I stammered, glancing between Bloom and Jessica. "I—I don't know," I admitted. "I just... I love Bloom. I always have. Even before, when she was Tony."

The admission hung in the air, raw and unfiltered. Bloom smiled softly, her eyes glistening with tears. "I love you too," she whispered.

The rest of the day unfolded like a strange dream. The family drove to the mall, Bloom and I were sitting side by side in the backseat, our hands intertwined. As we neared the destination, the streets grew crowded with protesters. Signs waved in the air, slogans shouting messages both of support and condemnation for the LGBTQ+ community.

"What's going on?" I asked, watching the chaos unfold.

"Protests," Mom said grimly. "There's a bill being debated to make discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community a criminal offense."

The atmosphere grew heavier as they passed through the crowd. Bloom's sharp gasp cut through the tension. "Stop the car!" she cried, pointing to a familiar figure among the protesters. Her father's face was red with anger, his voice booming above the crowd. Her mother stood nearby, silent and withdrawn.

Mom hesitated but pulled over. Bloom climbed out of the car, her legs trembling as she approached her parents.

"What are you doing here?" her father snapped the moment he saw her. "You're not part of this family anymore."

"I'm your daughter," Bloom said, her voice shaking. "Why can't you just accept me?"

"You're no daughter of mine," he spat. "You're an abomination. A disgrace."

Bloom's mother stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Stop it, Richard. She's our child."

"No," he growled. "She's a freak. If you want to side with her, you can leave too."

Bloom's mother turned to Mom, her expression resolute. "Can I come with you?" she asked softly. "I can't stay with him anymore."

Without another word, they left the protest behind, the tension in the car palpable. Bloom clung to me, tears streaming down her face. Claire, her mother, sat silently, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

The mall offered little reprieve. Though the inside was calm, the shadows of the protest loomed in their minds. Bloom and I held hands as they wandered the stores, our bond stronger than ever. But the day's events had left their mark. As we returned home, the weight of Bloom's fractured family hung heavily in the air.

That night, as we sat in the family room, Claire turned to the us girls, her voice steady but tired. "It's time we talked about the summer camp."

The tension was far from over, but for now, we were safe. Together.