Wes reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded envelope. My name was written across the front in Miles’s handwriting. I recognized it immediately. My hands…

As I continued reading, I discovered that Miles had planned to tell us more about himself when he felt ready. He had feared that his father might…

Wes explained that Miles had left a video message on his phone and asked him to play it during the funeral. Russell nodded slowly. The room became…

The recording continued. Miles spoke about the importance of being accepted and reminded us that love should never depend on someone fitting into expectations. Russell lowered his…

A week later, we held a small gathering in Miles’s memory. Friends, relatives, and neighbors arrived wearing red ribbons, scarves, ties, and dresses. Wes stood beside us,…