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2050.

the sad coos of the mourning doves in the trees above set the background music for the boy's walk through his neighborhood.

he was fifteen and already trying to find a way to get as far away from his family and home as possible. but for now, he was trapped. he felt his own wings were clipped and all he could do was walk the dirt road in his rural hometown and listen to the chickadees, wrens, and cardinals sing their songs. he wanted to fly away, to find his own place in the world where he wouldn't be judged for the makeup on his face, the way he talked, or the clothes he wore.

someday.

but fifteen-year-old kaede had no idea how much his life was going to change in the coming months.

all he could think of now was the stinging pain and the memory of the hand that had slapped him across the face only ten minutes ago, how his legs hurt from running so fast and so far, and how his arms and ribs would be bruised soon enough.

they never would have become parents if they had known their child would be an abomination. all of those years of sermons and vacation bible school had been a tremendous waste if he was going to be living a life of sin. it was filthy, disgusting, abhorrent. if they could lock him in a dank basement somewhere, they would, if it mean they could re-educate him.

kaede had heard such vile things from his parents and extended family lately. it made his heart and his head hurt.

children were supposed to grow up in loving homes with mothers and fathers who cared for them. was it really his fault that they didn't love him anymore?