Acceptance Meets Prince Charming [In Honor of My Freedom Road]

1. Different, abnormal they said that I needed to be fixed

Many years and many tears, led to Me hiding every chance of every

circumstance.

Ensuring I was not killed for being Me, became my number one priority

with number 2 being ; protecting My Family.

I was lost for such a long time, risking it when I felt I could just to feel

alive.

No one heard my tears or wiped, no one to stop Me spiraling as I was not

like them.

Tried to let my guard down once, a mistake never to be made again

As from this, a knife was held to my throat, punched and kicked and told

to run.

Bad news for them as I was like Usain Bolt on this One. They never saw

me again, so clear it became, I could not stay.

I was not safe and never would be here.

2. Tough choice was this One; give up your Family and your normality in

order to save your life.

Man-up Drew, and do what you have to do, nobody said Freedom did not

have its price.

Paid; one windy August day, I boarded the iron-bird, and from was never

heard.

The decade that followed saw me win and lose so many life battles,

I stopped counting all my acquired scars.

No amount of preparation had Me ready or holding steady for the deluge

of pain, struggle, loneliness and sorrow that continues even to this day.

Purchased in blood was my 'acceptance', as I lost a Mother, 2 Brothers

and a dear old friend, just so I could breathe again.

So much loss for too high a cost of Freedom.

3. 'Sir you state you are gay and seek Asylum for fear of persecution &

death, how do we know this is true?' the Judge asked

Stripped to the very core of my existence, by the Question; but

determined to make the World understand.

'Your Honor, you have seen the letter from my partner Mitchell, who has

been my support, strength and rock', I replied.

' I wake up each day missing his touch, making him breakfast, seeing him

smile or cuddling up to him closer to remind myself love is worth

standing up for'.

' Yes Your Honor I am Gay, and had I not fled My Home when I did, none

of this would be real and I would not have found love that frees Me,

Accepts and Sees Me'.

What more was there to say; I was born this way and knew I deserved to

live with fear or prejudice choosing to give no voice to my truth or right

to live...Free.

4. 'After full consideration and a review of all the facts, this Court grants

You full Asylum and a safe haven from the true and serious harm that

would have come to your person had you stayed or acted uncertain'.

Dizzy; I was almost faint as I was unsure what the Judge, in his

authoritarian nudge, had said about the very existence of my person.

'You are free to leave, and I thank you for being so open with this Court,

after living, no... existing through so much Trauma and Hurt. You Sir,

deserve this moment as does your partner.'

Loud, so loud was this vindication of My existence, I wanted to shout it

with Wholesome healing as tears streamed down my face and I was given

a moment to hold Mitchell to Me and then, I was taken away.

Months I waited for the process to be completed, and even more before

I felt strong enough to return to London and Michael's loving arms, but

waited I did.

5. Kings Cross Station in London buzzed with its usual hustle and bustle of

travelers from the seven quarters, today I was one of them about to be

reunited with the man I believed I'd love like no other.

Two and a half years apart, did change some things and made others

seem even more sure. This man had me, hurt me then saved me, yet still

He was all I could see, want, missed and longed for.

Mitchell stood in front of both Bus & Train stations, and when our eyes

locked, I made a slow run into his arms and kissed him so intimately and

deeply, I felt time and space stop.

Stopped to say and I deserved this fairytale moment that almost seemed

unreal, a man greeting another with 24 White long stemmed roses, then

kissing him so deeply they more than deserved a happy reality.

Suitcases to the trunk of his little but powerful Mercedes SLK-500

convertible car, with the top down we drove away to a series of applause

and smiles from the busy crowds.

Pinched myself a few times to make sure this wasn't a lucid dream or my

overactive mind running wild.

Accepted and allowed to have my very own Prince Charming, this was not

just really real, but a true miracle I had to steal.

As I knew I deserved, like everyone else, to be Happy or real.

[End.]