Stone Butch Blues

ered Rocco sitting next to me. She reached forward and stroked my cheek. I touched my own face. Ifelt

“If you’re afraid to lose what you love, you’ll never be able to let go and feel it.

I emerged from behind the bar. It was the look on Theresa’s face that gave me the courage to raise my voice: You saw me standing alone. My voice cracked and pitched with embarrassment and emotion.

Theresa chewed her lower lip and cried.

Do-wah-do, my friends backed me up. Peaches stood behind me, waving the painted blue moon back and forth in a wide arc over my head.

But then you suddenly appeared before me, I extended my hand toward Theresa. And when I looked the moon had turned to gold! Peaches flipped the moon to the gold side. Everyone cheered. Peaches curtsied and continued swaying with the moon.

Theresa reached for me. I finished the song dancing in her arms.

I realized it was true, I wasn’t alone. I had love of my own.