Gaycism

The subway doors opened, and Oscar stepped in, his eyes meeting mine in a hesitant glance that mirrored my own gay anxieties about approaching someone new. He sat across from me, and the nervous energy between us was palpable, a shared fear of rejection hanging heavy in the air, amplified by the knowledge that we were both part of the LGBT community finding a sense of belonging. As the train rattled onward, I gathered my courage, a fragile hope blooming within me as I imagined the possibility of something more. When I finally smiled, he returned it, and I knew this subway ride might lead to a love neither of us anticipated, a gentle haven built on shared vulnerability.