Finding Himself

Shiloh grew up in a rural town thirty minutes outside of Gainesville, Florida. He’d kept to himself after his mothers unexpected death. His mundane life had been a simple one. He didn’t mind his job as a Dishwasher. Odd jobs for his elderly neighbors brought a little more income in. He wanted nothing more than to leave. He knew he wouldn’t be looking back when he did leave. If he was ever able to. His minimum wage job covered the basics. It meant he was never able to save enough to even consider leaving. Despite his efforts to do so. 

His dad marrying a woman who lived in South Florida changed everything. Owen had grown up with this woman. Both were single. Both seemed lonely. It looked like a marriage of convenience to Shiloh. Things he told Owen. Comments that fell on Deaf ears. Shiloh knew it wasn’t going to work out. He’d told Owen as much. Another comment that was cast aside. Shiloh got rid of everything he knew he’d never need or use. A duffel bag, large suitcase and backpack were all that he was moving to South Florida with. He was moving in with a friend instead of Owen and Addison. 

Owen disliked Shilohs refusal to move in with him and Addison. Shiloh and Addison had butt heads more than once. About his refusal to drive. Addison didn’t understand how unsafe it was for Shiloh to drive. Despite knowing about his Epilepsy. She was demanding he learn to drive. She backed off after being the only one to pick him up and take him home after he had a seizure. She finally understood why he’d chosen at fourteen to never drive. He’d begun roaming around South Florida after a while. Until Owen finally divorced Addison. She’d once again made comments about Shiloh. A few comments about him not working. Her lack of understanding played a role. He didn’t have any experience. People didn’t want to hire him as a result. Her homophobic remarks didn’t help. She said he was Mentally Ill or going through a phase after he came out as Gay. That was the last straw for Owen. 

Shiloh knew what he was getting into after moving home. He knew the same comments Addison made would be the general consensus back home. It didn’t make sense considering some of the people making those comments knew one of his cousins is Gay. They never said a word when he called them out after making homophobic comments toward him. He stopped caring what others thought after a while. He’d gone no contact with nearly everyone. His relatives included. They’d let their actions speak for them. They never helped him growing up. Not once did they help after Owen got sick. Owen’s unexpected death left Shiloh homeless. He’d decided to pack everything up and move to Atlanta.

A trip to Atlanta changed his life. He knew he was making the right decision. He left with a job and a place. He hadn’t been so sure that would happen. He’d managed to get a job as a Dishwasher while also finding a spacious studio nearby. Remi and Frankie, two childhood friends, helped him move to Atlanta. He’d used the money from selling the car to get the apartment. He’d let the Realty company know what was going on after Owen’s death. They let him out of the lease without having to pay any fees for breaking the lease considering the circumstances. He was thankful for them doing that. Shiloh had condensed a lifetime of memories into four large sized totes. 

Shiloh had become the Restaurants Marketer as well as their Dishwasher in the year since he moved to Atlanta. It came with a pay raise to compensate. He’d managed to bring in far more business because of his Marketing skills. They’d hired a few more Dishwashers because of the influx in business. He’d been an openly Gay man since the move. He was far happier than he’d ever been. A trip to New York left him conflicted. He wanted to move there. For new beginnings. The entire Restaurant encouraged him to do it. He packed everything once more to move there.