BEE

As Bee fell into a coma, her unconscious consciousness wandered between the past and the present, and her entire world went dark. She started telling her story as she lay in the hospital bed surrounded by her loved but unusual family's pandemonium.

Both of her parents, Derek and Sharon, were intellectually disabled. After a drunk driving accident at the age of 12, Derek's development was stopped, but Sharon's cognitive abilities never reached their full potential. They married after falling in love in spite of their difficulties. Despite initial reluctance, their families ultimately approved. Derek's mother, who questioned their capacity to nurture a kid, requested that Sharon be sterilized, but the decision was never carried out. Soon after Bee was born, her grandparents, Peg and Earl, who were already supporting the couple, had additional responsibilities.

Originally nurtured by her grandparents, Bee was named after Sharon's favorite cartoon character. Earl eventually became weary of supporting the family alone and encouraged Derek to start his own home. Derek remained adamant despite Peg's objections. After relocating to Nevada, the young family lived in a van until they were able to purchase a house.

As Bee grew up, her early years were full of affection and a great deal of responsibility. Her parents depended on her for things that most kids wouldn't have to think about. Derek claimed that she needed to learn how to drive in case something happened to him, so he taught her early. She received Godzilla, a dog, as a treat. Even though she loved her family, she found it difficult to bear the burden of her duties. When Godzilla escaped one day, Bee chased after it and crashed her father's truck. Child Services intervened as a result of this incident, introducing Bee to social worker Mary. Bee opened up about the challenges of taking care of her parents while still being a child during their talk.

Following this, Joy and Ben, Bee's aunt and uncle, proposed that she spend the summer with them. She lived a different kind of life there, where she was taken care of instead of taking care of others. She joined the track team and performed academically at the private school where they enrolled her. Despite making friends like Nia, she continued to be bullied. When Ethan, a sweet and amiable student, saw that she was having difficulty in class one day, he gave his notes. They became close and began dating.

Mr. Vasquez, Bee's guidance counselor, recognized her ability and encouraged her to apply to colleges as she neared her senior year. She paused because she thought her parents couldn't live without her. She discovered she had her own aspirations, though, after discovering an old hat her uncle had given her—dreams of attending UCLA to study astronomy.

Family problems persisted in the interim. Sharon was arrested after being duped into purchasing alcohol for youngsters. Derek was also arrested for trying to assist. When Bee heard the news, she was in the middle of putting on her prom dress and had to utilize her funds to save them. She became so overwhelmed that she snapped at her parents, complaining about their lack of responsibility. Bee became even more resentful after Derek lost his anger and smacked her..

She decided against UCLA and confided in Mr. Vasquez, determined to manage things on her own. She then explained her burden and skipped class to spend time with Ethan. He was upset and ended their relationship when she hinted that she could have to care for him in the event that his cancer returned.

Bee made amends with Nia and urged her to enjoy prom in spite of the heartache. Desperate and disoriented, Bee took a sip of whiskey before going out to sell lottery tickets. She realized she was in danger after accepting a ride from Andy, an older brother of a schoolmate, while intoxicated and defenseless. She stumbled and struck her head while attempting to flee. Panicked, Andy and his companion left her outside a hospital.

When Bee woke up, she was surrounded by relatives. She knew she loved them very much in spite of everything. Mary reassured her that she had not come across a more disorderly family. They made amends when Ethan later came to visit and apologized.

With her confidence back, Bee graduated with Nia. Derek urged her to follow her aspirations in a sincere talk, telling her that she didn't have to give up her future for them. She applied to and was accepted to UCLA with his approval. Her family's reunion on graduation day demonstrated that love—in all its flaws—was the cornerstone of their relationship.