Dennis was bullied as a child in Nebraska. He was mocked because he looked like a girl, with his shoulder-length hair, soft voice, shyness, and feminine body. He wasn't welcome to play with the boys, and the girls considered him a freak. He only had one friend, who moved away when Dennis was in fourth grade because his parents were fed up with the town, mainly due to the toxic religion practiced there.
Dennis's siblings always joined in with his bullies; in fact, they encouraged them. They would go to Dennis's house to laugh at him. Since his parents considered him a mistake of God, they didn't care what happened to him. They never hit him like his siblings did, but they always allowed it.
Dennis didn't have any friends in college either, too busy with his work and maintaining a perfect GPA to keep his scholarship and pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. The guys at the university didn't hit him or make fun of him; they just ignored him, which Dennis was deeply grateful for. He'd had enough of high school.
Now in his final year of medical school and his second year of clinical rotations, Dennis chose emergency medicine because his professor had recommended it, something Dennis was grateful for. He didn't like making choices; after so many years without a say, he was now uncomfortable having to express what he wanted to do.
When Dennis met Trinity, he was scared. He was afraid the cycle would repeat itself, that Trinity would humiliate him for anything. On his first shift, he was anxious all day, on high alert to avoid Trinity. Instead, Trinity offered him a place to live when she saw him without one. Dennis almost cried—the key word being "almost." After so long, he knew that many people just wanted to see him cry so they could make fun of him.
Dennis tried not to take up much space when he arrived at Trinity's house; he was afraid they would kick him out. Trinity was kind. She gave Dennis a room to himself and assured him he wouldn't have to pay rent until he could, and that she would try to cover both their expenses. That time, Dennis cried—he cried all the tears he hadn't shed since his parents kicked him out for questioning God's morals. If Trinity had heard him, she had been polite enough not to speak of it.
After a few weeks living with Trinity, Dennis began to realize that her comments were a way for her to feel comfortable where he was, that she didn't do it maliciously, but rather to protect herself. Now, Dennis and Trinity have movie nights whenever they can. Trinity criticizes every film they watch, but that only makes Dennis laugh. Currently, thanks to Trinity's help and that of all the emergency room doctors, Dennis feels like he belongs there.
