Outspoken

Charlie’s life had been filled with brainwashed beliefs. Unsteady on his feet. Unsure of how to go about his life after his mother’s death. His dad had checked out after that. It wasn’t much different from before her death though. He’d always seemed checked out. It’d been obvious with the strained relationship with his older brother Owen. Even though it wasn’t talked about. Not while Charlie was around anyway. the eleven year age gap didn’t help. Owen was out of the house by the time Charlie was in Middle School. Owen was part of Charlies life until Maggies untimely death.

Twenty four years had passed. The strained relationship Charlie had with Damien was known by everyone. Charlie living as a mostly open Trans Man being one of the reasons. Damien being checked out far before hadn’t helped. He’d seemed to not even care about his own health. He’d not listened to his own Doctors. His Cardiologist included. The stents that’d been placed had already failed leading to the surgery he’d been told he needed. The same one the Cardiologist said was the best option for him to begin with. Damien was in the hospital for three weeks as a result.

Charlie’s decision to move came during that time. He’d gotten rid of everything he knew he’d not need in that time. He’d cleared out the house of things that wouldn’t be used by him or Damien. The mass decluttering as Charlie called it had become a hyper focus in the first week. He’d organized everything. The second week being getting rid of everything and packing everything he wasn’t going to use over the next few weeks. The third week had been making sure everything was in its place for when Damien came home. Until the argument happened at the hospital anyway.

Damien’s lack of communication and uncooperative nature led to him being sent to a Rehab instead of home. To make sure he understood how serious things had become. Everyone under the sun had spoken to him. He didn’t want to accept his current predicament of getting older. Charlie let his unfiltered thoughts out. The Psychological evaluation showed that he did in fact have Dementia. The rehab became permanent residency. Charlie put everything in the room Damien was placed in, let the Realtors know what was going on and left for South Florida. To Damiens dismay and behest. And protest.

Charlie had gone on with his life. He’d been living as an openly Trans Man in the year since he’d left. The only update he’d received so far about Damien being that he was rapidly declining. He’d made it clear he had no interest in going back. For any reason other than to deal with the aftermath of his eventual death. Damien had made his bed. He now had to lie in it. Damien hadn’t even had any visitors in the last year because of facing the consequences of his actions. Charlie’s column in Greenley Magazine had been doing well.


Life had gotten better for him since he left the town that’d never loved him. Even when he was going through hell with Damien. Charlie had gone on with his life. He and Owen had a better relationship. The much needed long conversation they had one night while Charlie was visiting him in Tennessee revealed everything. He’d a better relationship with Maggie than with their own dad. As rocky of a start as it’d been for the pair. Owen hadn’t been used to the kind of rules Maggie put in place. That having a sibling changed everything. For the better.

“We needed this” Owen sighed
“Yeah, we did. I’m happy it happened” Charlie replied
“I’m sorry it took so long to happen though” Owen mentioned
“I am also. So many reasons why” Charlie answered
“Yeah. It happened and that’s what matters” Owen said

Charlie had made the decision to move to Colorado. Damien had died before he could move though. Owen took all of Damien’s belongings for the time being. He’d set aside what Charlie had said he’d eventually want. The very few things anyway. Everyone was surprised to see how much Charlie had changed. He’d already had top surgery, paid for by insurance he’d finally gotten. He’d dressed androgynously knowing what would happen. He’d didn’t care what people thought at the end of the day though. He was going to live his life his way. Happily. As he very well should do.