That family was here tonight. Not just the trans folks, though Jamie, a nonbinary teenager with electric blue hair, was already tapping their foot nervously by the snack table. And not just the regulars—old Saul, a gay man in his seventies who’d lived through the AIDS crisis and still wore a leather jacket covered in faded buttons. The circle was a patchwork.
Jamie sent a clown emoji. Saul typed in all caps: I’LL BRING THE GOOD COFFEE.
Leo replied first: Only if it’s gluten-free, I’m trying to respect my gut.
The circle laughed softly. Leo reached over and squeezed Jamie’s hand.
