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Silent Pride
Ben was folding towels in his room. The basement machines only ran on high, and everything came back slightly stiff, but he’d stopped caring about that years ago.
Josh had traded shifts for the coming Cascadia Pride. Asked around, found coverage, done. The only conversation it took at work was scheduling.
He couldn’t even imagine going to Pride. Don’t ask, don’t tell wasn’t just policy back when he started. Not that he needed to be reminded—he had a lifetime of practice and passed easily.
Except for the blood drives.
Vasovagal response became his escape. The guys found out, because the guys always found out. A firefighter who passes out at needles. They roasted him for weeks. He owned it like it was true.
Josh was telling some story during a post-call wrap-up, hands going. The full performance, punctuating every other word.
“Devlin,” Garvin said. “You’re so gay it’s distracting.”
“Can’t help it if you can’t stop looking,” Josh said, gesturing louder.
“Kid handled a combative patient on my watch last month,” Sean said. “He can be as gay as he wants.”
Josh went back to his story. Garvin went back to his rope bag. No one tried to steer the conversation somewhere safer.
It was just Josh, being himself.
And nobody gave a damn.
Ben put the towels back in the closet.
Josh had lost his family for this. Made the choice, paid for it, and walked into a profession full of people Ben had always assumed he needed to perform for.
Ben had kept everything. His family, his career, his reputation.
It only cost his honesty.
Good for you, Josh.
He meant it.
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