Your friend Emily and you were walking home from the bus stop.

She talks about a party and getting laid. But you get home and she waves good goodbye. You walk inside and your dad's in the kitchen.

"So Chiquito, what was Emily talking about?" He asks.

"Since when do you cook?" You joke.

"Chiquito, you like her. Don't you?" He asks. Not knowing the truth that you're gay. You have yet to come out. And your little brother and Emily know.

Suddenly your younger brother, dantè runs out from his room with a cigarette in his mouth, he's 11.

"Look! I'm like Antonio!" Dantè jokes.

"Mijo, take that out of your mouth, and chiquito go change your clothes. You smell like you went to boot camp, no girls gonna like that smell" he jokes.

Dantè runs off but Carlos stops you. "Chiquito, is that eyeliner?" He asks you.

"Emily put some on me, I lost a bet" you lie. But he shrugs.

You walk down the hallway to your room. He mumbles something that you manage to hear.

"Liar."

You go into your room and you take off your shirt. You cant believe you got beat up so bad at school today. It's hard living in a city, Chicago. People are racist in a bad way.

Later that night you hear a movie. You walk out and you see your dad sorting out money on the coffee table in the living room.

"Papi?" You mumble. "What time is it?"

He pauses. Hiding the money. "Chiquito, come lay down." He suggests. "Nightmares again?" He sighs. "No need to feel embarrassed, I understand you can snuggle me while yo-"

You grab a blanket and sit beside him. Resting your head on his shoulder. Almost Falling asleep.

You're a 14 year old boy, you're Mexican. You're gay, but you have yet to come out to your family. Your names Antonio Lee Hernandez. You live in the south side of Chicago.