Gay garden

The rumble of the subway car couldn't drown out the way Simon's heart leaped when Victor, with his kind eyes and shy smile, sat down beside him, making him question everything he knew about being gay. He had never felt this way before, not even on the dating apps he was terrified to use, and in this moment of shared glances, of quiet unspoken understanding, he felt a flutter of hope – and the weight of his own secret. Victor, perhaps sensing his hesitation, kept their interaction to a minimum, but his mere presence was enough for Simon to dream of a future, a real future where they could both be proudly part of the LGBT community.