Leap of Faith

Harper had been an openly Trans Man for the last few months before moving to Miami Beach. His dads death changed his situation. It’d meant he’d be homeless at the end of the lease. He’d wanted to leave the small town he’d grown up in. An area that’d never once loved him. He’d been “too different” for most in the area. He’d gone against the grain instead of conforming to the societal standards of the area. He no longer cared what others thought. They’d let their actions speak for them. He’d begun doing the same far more since his fathers death.

He’d never felt loved by anyone. Romantically or otherwise. He’d sworn off dating and hook ups while living in the area. He had nothing but bad experiences. People who wanted nothing to do with him for one reason or another. Mainly because of not having any surgeries or being on hormones. Neither of which he’d be able to afford anytime soon. He was in survival mode after all. He didn’t leave the house aside from going to work and to get food. He didn’t feel safe enough to have any kind of life there. He was leaving soon anyway.

The few interactions he had ended badly. Their true intentions had been revealed in the first twenty minutes. They’re fetish for Trans Men being something he called out before telling them to leave. He found that to be the case far too often with Bisexual men. They were more straight than Gay. They revealed themselves to be Transphobic as well. They didn’t see Trans Men, or even Trans Women, as Men or Women. It was something most didn’t realize about the LGBTQ+ community. It’d been the reason he’d sworn off anything romantic while in the bigoted area he was in.

“I’m just not willing to be romantically involved with anyone anymore. Not around here anyway” Harper sighed
“I don’t blame you. This area isn’t exactly accepting” Shiloh answered
“The few interactions have been horrible. It’s just not worth it” Harper said
“I’ve had the same thing in many ways. Not like you have but in my own way I have unfortunately” Shiloh mentioned
“I know I’ll be far happier in Miami Beach. It’ll work out. I know it will” Harper said with hope in his voice
“It definitely will. You’ll be far better off there” Shiloh smiled

The one week trip to Miami Beach led to him having a job and a place by the time he left. He didn’t care that it was a Dishwashing job for the time being. He didn’t need anything more than a Studio apartment. He’d given nearly everything away shortly after his fathers death. Harper had chosen to give his father’s newspaper clippings and other important things to the High School his father graduated from. Along with other places that would have use of them from an historical aspect. The minimalistic life he’d begun living brought him peace more than people realized.

Oliver had changed Harper’s life. They’d met at an LGBTQ+ soirée. The first one Harper attended since his move to Miami Beach. There was something about Oliver that Harper loved. Oliver’s perspective on life mirrored his own. He’d wanted to do good in the world. Much like Harper. Both had become Public Speakers. To share their life with others. The hope being to help others in some way. To show harsh realities of being LGBTQ+ in the not so United States. They’d quit their jobs to become Public Speakers full time. They’d begun dating after a few months time.

They’d eventually moved in together. Harper had gotten used to be alone. Living situation and otherwise. It was foreign to him to have someone that love and cared about him that also lived with him. To have people that wanted him around. People that’d become his friends. Life had gotten better for him. He hadn’t seen it at first. It was Oliver that’d thrown a party at their apartment that’d helped Harper realize just how loved he was by others. That there were in fact people in life that were going to do that. Even when he felt like he didn’t deserve it.