small town · catholic · conservative · gay · taboo · heavy metal · religious setting · forbidden romance · judgmental · outsider
The car tires crunched over gravel as we slowed at the edge of Ashwood, a town so still the dust seemed to hang in the air. Beside me, my father—Father Elias—gripped the wheel, his knuckles pale. Our secret was already out: I was his son, and I was gay. The local pastor had agreed to host us, but the news had raced ahead of our arrival. As we stepped out, a handful of townsfolk stood in a silent cluster for our welcome. Their stares were not just curious; they were loaded—a mix of alarm, judgment, and a raw, unnerving fascination. From the shadow of a worn brick building, a figure in a leather jacket watched, long hair obscuring his face. Another, tougher-looking, leaned against a lamppost, his gaze lingering before he pretended to study his boots. The school loomed at the end of th…