After that first experience with Todd, things went great. Tutoring was an experience that would teach me a lesson of life, which was a bit ironic, because I was suppose to be teaching him. I went over to his house everyday. Sometimes we would do stuff, most of the time not. We didn't want to get caught by his Mom.

To further understand the story, I must tell about my home life. My dad hated me. We would always fight and argue. My mom was a drunk, who would always scream at my dad, thus making him scream at me. I hated this lifestyle. It was miserable. I was on the verge of moving out, but there was no place for me.

I began writing letters to Todd, him writing them back as well. Since I only saw him a couple times during the day and at night, this was a good way for us to communicate. Todd had known about my conditions at home. He had always said that I could come live with them, but I didn't want to be a nuisance to them. It was very tempting though. To live with my lover. The thoughts of it made me full of life.

Then the day came when tragedy struck. Todd, stupidly, had left one of the letters I had written him in his pocket, while his mother did laundry, and she found it and, of course, being motherly, read it. There family was very religious and wasn't fond of gay people. The letter had had personal things in it, which she did not like very much.

I called Todd one morning and his Mom had picked up. Here was the conversation,

"Is Todd there?"

"Who is this?" she said.

"Brandon."

"Well Brandon, you can go ahead and forget you had ever met him. I read your little love note."

"Okay."

"Have a great life."

"Okay."

I couldn't believe I had just sat there and said, "Okay." I couldn't do anything to defend myself. There was nothing I could say. I had just felt as if I had been punched in the stomach.

When I got to school that day, I saw Todd. He looked upset. I just walked up to him and gave him a huge hug. I didn't care who was around or who saw us. I was just in that single moment, us together. We went through the school day very close to each other. We would always walk very close and I made the effort to meet him outside his classes.

I wasn't able to see him after school anymore. He wasn't even aloud to talk to me. I was supposed to be non-existent in his life but that would never happen. We would be together forever.

Just when things had started to get better, another punch in the stomach came. My dad threw me out of the house and I had to pack quickly and leave. I just roamed the streets for about an hour that night. I called Todd on his cell phone and he said, "Hold on. I have to wait for my mom to go to sleep. I'll be there as fast as I can. Walk to the park and I'll pick you up there."

I asked him, "Then what happens? I can't go to your house."

"Don't worry about it. I'll figure out something."

I didn't know what to do. I paced to the park, hating my