Campfires & Rainbows

Chapter 16

Tiny sat down next to me and sweetly smiled at me. She could change all she wants but that sweet smile will never go away. Shit, she could be holding a gun at my head, and her smile would still look sweet.

"Good morning, campers!" An unenthusiastic voice called out from the platform stage thingy, I still don't know what to call it.

My eyes landed on Head Counsellor Dean. His eyes were red and huge dark bags had formed under them. His hair was a mess but he still managed to get dressed. His husband, Josh Higgins, was holding his hand reassuringly.

The camp was dead silent, somehow, we all knew something was wrong.

Dean continued, "Last night, the authorities were here. There was a missing camper, she has returned to the camp and is now safe." They were talking about Tiny.

Josh whispered something into Dean's ear. Dean nodded and sat down on a bench next to the stage.

Josh spoke into the microphone, "The police didn't only look for her but they also searched through our files. They found out that we're a camp that is here to support LGBTQ+ youth... They also found out that most of your parents don't know that." Whispers erupted throughout the camp, Josh continued, "They are going to try to close this camp down."

The whispering grew into yelling. People were yelling over each other trying to be heard. It was pure chaos all around me. Multiple people seemed to be having panic attacks. Everyone seemed to be seconds away from tears. Asmaa seemed to be having a anxiety attack. Multiple people were probably having them.

"It's all my fault."

I looked to the source of the comment. Tiny's sunglasses were off now and tears calmly rolled out of her eyes.

"It's all my fault," She said again.

I know I should say no it's not, I know I should comfort her but I don't want to.

My parents will nag me for the rest of my life. Doing Bible study after Bible study to try and fix me. This camp is what had made me truly laugh and be truly happy. I haven't been like that in a long time. This camp gave me hope that maybe everything was gonna be alright.

And... And she took that away from me.

From all of us. Think about the kids who get beat up at school, at home this was their safe haven. This is what gave them hope. And now it's being destroyed by homophobes.

All because Tiny couldn't control her emotions. All because she wanted to be dramatic and run off into the woods. She could've talked to me. She could've told me.

"I'm so sorry," Tiny was looking at me now. Her face was red, her eyes puffy. "I'm so, so, so, sorry."

My face hardened, my voice became cold enough to freeze a heart "You should be."