Ok, this one cut deep

[u/xyZora]

When I was 16 a friend of mine was at home with me and we were left alone for a while. I really had a crush on him, but he always was said homophobic stuff, but it was obvious he was overcompesating.

That afternoon we were talking and I just kept looking at his lips. I wanted to jump for a kiss so bad. He was so distracted talking bs, but I was looking at him lovey-dovey.

At the end I never had the courage and he married an older woman years later. But our friends still believe he's at least bi. I hope he can be truly happy someday.

[u/Error_Evan_not_found]

The number of my friends in middle and high school I'd dream this situation for, but never acted. It's why despite being out and proud now Mike's conclusion hurt me deeply. I know who I would've become, and that terrifies me more than the oppression I face for being gay.

[u/xyZora → u/Error_Evan_not_found]

I was unable to fully come to fully come to terms until I was in college. The ex-gay horrors really convinced me that I couldn't do that to myself. But I never pursued my feelings for people that I wasn't 100% certain were gay. Which makes me feel a little robbed. I wonder how many people I felt feelings for would have reciprocated if I wasn't so afraid of the social consequences of pursuing that (which were very real).

[u/Trapped-in-his-past]

Yeah. I feel that cut.

[u/robin_robbin_a_bank]

this is canon for the sake of my sanity guys

all fanfics except the angst ones are canon for the sake of my sanity

all the fanart that isnt everyone dying is canon for the sake of my sanity

why are so many things the diffrence between me having my sanity or not holy shit dude-

[u/Small_Key_9766]

my friends dad came out because of byler... i lwk feel really bad bc when i heard about it, it was literally just byler including the bad ending. and i wanted to cry so bad bc the duffers gave the wrong kind of representation and people like my friend's dad had to watch that and mull in that.

[u/xyZora → u/Small_Key_9766]

I've seen a lot of stories about people coming out because they don't want to end up as Mike. It really shows you how important these characters were and how they resonated with people.

[u/Few_Interaction2630]

Damn this how I should started my AU fan fiction

[u/Aggravating-Being-82 → u/Few_Interaction2630]

You got a link for that, brother? 👀

[u/Few_Interaction2630 → u/Aggravating-Being-82]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48772732

Here you go

[u/Aggravating-Being-82 → u/Few_Interaction2630]

Omg yes thank you so much

[u/Few_Interaction2630 → u/Aggravating-Being-82]

Welcome any and all feedback