Galen's Destiny

Chapter 1 Galen had always felt there was something different about him. Other, of course, than the fact that he was gay. He had realized that while he was still in middle school. By the time he was in high school he was out and anyone who took exception to the fact—well, if they did, they kept it to themselves. Galen might be lean and lanky, but he was strong for his size and made no bones about proving it if anyone gave him grief on a physical level. As the son of Lydia Dane, a single mother, he learned early on to stand up for himself. At the age of thirteen, he asked her about his father—again. Before then, she had sidestepped the question, only telling him that his father hadn’t wanted to be tied down so she hadn’t let him know she was pregnant. This time, she told Galen the truth, saying, “You’re old enough to understand now. I don’t know who your father is. Before you think the worst of me—” she hugged him, smiling ruefully, “—I was in college, at Tulane. That’s in New Orleans. I had just turned twenty-one. My friends took me out to a club to celebrate.” “You got drunk?” Galen asked, uncertain if he liked the idea of his beloved mother doing that. “I got…tipsy. There was a dance floor and I’ll admit I took advantage of the fact. One of the handsomest men I’ve ever met asked me to dance.” She ruffled Galen’s hair. “You take after him with your dark hair and beautiful green eyes. But that’s neither here nor there. We danced. A lot, actually. Then he offered to take me home and…And nine months later you were born.” “You never saw him again?” “Never. His told me his name was Rénald, which I thought was very romantic—even though in New Orleans, with its Cajun population, it wasn’t all that uncommon I suppose. I asked my friends if they knew him, or recognized him. None of them did. Anyway, long story short, I finally gave up on finding him. Once I finished college, we moved out here and that was that. I’m sorry I can’t tell you anything more about him, because I don’t know anything more, except to say he was—for that one night at least—a very nice, charming man who made me feel special.” Galen embraced her, saying, “It’s okay, Mom.” She smiled, hugging him back. “It’s definitely okay because I ended up with you. That, I wouldn’t change for the world.” A year later, Galen had come out to her. She accepted it, as she did everything about him, as if it was just the norm for her exceptional son. “You are what you are. Do not let anyone tell you being gay is wrong—because it isn’t. It’s as much a part of you as your hair and your build.” She grinned, feinting a punch at him. “At least you can defend yourself if anyone gives you grief.” “Or run away,” he said, laughing with relief at her acceptance. “I know. As fast as you are, you should join the track team when you get to high school.” “I might.” He took a deep breath. “Thank you for understanding.” “Sweetheart, there’s nothing to understand. Just remember, be careful.” Then she gave him a short lecture on safe s*x, which, since she was a nurse, hadn’t surprised him in the least.