Toxic

Oliver had been in a toxic living situation the majority of his life. In some way. It’d been one thing after another on top of that. His life had been far from normal. His mothers death when he was a kid changed his life. He’d come out as Trans while living in South Florida. The move was mired by his dad’s marriage to a woman he had no business marrying. A marriage sprung on Oliver at the last minute during a New Years Eve party. One he walked out on after sharing his harsh opinion. His disapproval was made clear that night. To everyone’s surprise. He made the best of it. 

He’d moved in with his Aunt (dad’s younger sister) knowing he’d be homeless in a few days time if he’d moved in with his dad and stepmother. His Aunt loved having him living with her. At first. Her quiet disdain was something he’d seen a year and a half after moving in with her. He hadn’t been able to find a job. He’d been living with Epilepsy for the last ten years. His lack of job experience didn’t help. His struggle to find a job wasn’t something she understood. He began spending far more time wandering as time went on. He’d discreetly read some of her text messages to her uncle (dad and Aunts younger brother) demeaning him. So he made it seem like he was with friends or applying for jobs. Applying for jobs being the only thing he was actually doing. To no avail.

He’d begun wandering around Miami Beach. He’d found peace wandering around the area. It gave him time to think about what he wanted to do. He’d found a job as a Dishwasher. By happenstance. He’d seen the sign mentioning the Cafe was hiring. To inquire within. It didn’t say what for. He’d inquired within knowing it’d likely be another failed attempt. Until Max asked how soon he could start. That he was more than willing to hire him, on the spot no less, for the job. It was part time. He didn’t care. It was a job he gladly accepted. 

The move back home came two years later. He’d come out as Trans by then. He’d become a Speaker in that time. His dad never acknowledged Oliver had come out to him. Oliver came to not care. He was going to live his life happily. Except for the fact he couldn’t be openly himself in the highly religious and bigoted area he’d grown up in. The marriage hadn’t worked out. As Oliver predicted. It’d lasted longer than he thought. It didn’t matter. He’d moved back home feeling like he was making the right decision. Until he realized he’d made the wrong one. 

Ten years had passed since the move home. Life had changed in that time. He left after a confrontational argument with Theo. He’d said everything Theo didn’t want to hear. He’d shamed him for not taking better care of himself. Oliver had saved what little he could. The majority of jobs were Retail in some way. Jobs with low hours and pay. Holidays being the only time anyone got more hours. The Dishwashing job he’d been working left little room to save. He’d saved the most during those times. He didn’t care that he was going to be homeless when he went back to Miami Beach. 

He had applied for and been approved for Food Stamps. Something he had the entire time. It’d helped him save a little more. It didn’t change the fact he now had to adjust what he bought with it. He’d managed to find a job as a Dishwasher a few weeks after arriving there. He’d been renting a room in a Hostel the entire time. He’d managed to finally find his own place a few months later. His life was finally getting better. It didn’t seem like it at times. It was though.