[CM] THE CASE

The truth is, when love comes, it cannot be stopped. ——"Love Actually"

"Mother."

"Oh, Spence!" Diana covered her mouth. "What happened to your eyes?"

Reid, who had a dark circle under his eye, smiled: "It was just a small accident."

"Is it the Burtons? I told you not to play with those kids." Diana said angrily.

"No, no, Mom, I'm 23," Reid said. "Burton can't beat me."

The number "23 years old" is like a remote control, and Diana's expression is blank for a moment, as if realizing something, she looks very lost: "Oh, of course, you have grown up. I can't remember the time."

"It's okay." Reid held her hand, frowning at the slightly lower temperature, "Let's go add some clothes, you're cold."

"I'm not cold, I know when to put on clothes, and I can take care of myself," Diana said sullenly, "You're the one who needs to be taken care of."

"That's right, that's right." Reid agreed perfunctorily.

"So, where's your partner?"

Reid almost choked on his own saliva: "What? Who?"

"Your partner, the one you mentioned in your letter," Diana said. "Don't try to lie to me, Mommy will always know you."

"He's not my partner, he's just a friend," Reid explained.

"Him?" Diana blinked in confusion, "I thought you liked girls, oh, forget it, it doesn't matter."

"mom!"

"Don't be shy, boy. There's nothing shameful about having someone you like." Diana looked around, "And, even if I wanted to object, I can't do it here."

Reid took a stab at her words; Diana didn't notice.She said, "You brought him here, why don't you let me see him? I haven't seen your friend in a long time, Spence. Did I see him last time I went to Quantico? Look, I'm too old to remember... Spence?"

"I'll bring him." Reid bent down and kissed her hand; the wrinkled hands that had held the pen for so long were the words of time.

Diana chuckled: "Oh, honey, I'm looking forward to it."

Griffit was wandering the streets aimlessly.

This strange city was not very friendly to him, he couldn't understand the bus stop signs, and the taxi driver was unwilling to work part-time as a tour guide, so he had to wander slowly block by block.

The daytime in Las Vegas is the same as in all cities. After witnessing the charm of her nighttime, many people feel that the daytime is boring. Griffith doesn't think so. He likes the ordinary look of Las Vegas, which is more life-like - like a hometown.

He was tired from walking, so he went to a small shop on the side of the road to buy a cup of coffee.When he came out, a girl stopped him: "Sir!"

Griffith looked back at her: "Hello?"

Girls wore perky twin-tails and hung a white board reading "Support Gay Marriage Law" in rainbow colors.She held out her hand to Griffith: "Hi sir, we are doing a road show to promote the legalization of gay marriage... If you don't mind, can you come and have a look? We have prepared some small gifts."

Griffith was taken aback.

"I hope you are not in a hurry." The girl said, "It won't take too long."

"No, I don't mind," Griffith said. "Actually... well, I don't have anything to do. If I could, how could I help?"

The girl didn't expect him to react like this, and immediately said pleasantly: "Of course!"

The girl's name is Lucy, and her girlfriend's name is Mariah, who is the planner of this event. Griffith followed Lucy with a stack of leaflets.She grabbed one and Griffith handed over a flyer.

"I didn't expect you to be willing to help." Lucy wrinkled his nose at him, "I have been rejected by many people, and I was almost beaten."

"Sounds dangerous."

"Anything is dangerous." Lucy flicked her twin tails. "If you encounter homophobia, it's over-we have been reported many times, and although our actions are completely legal, there are always The police came to buy us tea."

Griffith smiled at her: "You guys are brave."

"You too." Lucy looked up, "You can accept yourself, and you are willing to speak up for us."

Griffith was amazed at her sharpness: "I… I didn't do anything."

"You just need to stand by my side." Lucy tapped the whiteboard, "Do you know how many people of my kind rejected me? They refused to accept the fact themselves, they even despised us—why? Despise us and despise us What's the difference between them?"

"Not everyone is as brave as you, and you can't force it," Griffith said. "You see, some people would rather lie their whole lives, deceiving themselves and others. They may have a harder life than you, but it's a way of life way, can you say they are wrong?"

Lucy pouted.

"Besides, that's not what they really want - being pointed at when they're out on the street with their partner, and they want to be treated like a normal couple."

"If we don't promote it, no," Lucy pouted, "they won't even have the chance to hit the streets!"

"I know, I didn't say you guys did anything wrong." Griffith patted her, "You're right, this is an inevitable stage, don't take this as the end, we have a long way to go."

Lucy was silent for a while, then suddenly asked: "Do you want to join us?"

Griffith feigned confusion: "Didn't I join?"

Lucy rolled her eyes: "No, my god, you idiot, I mean join our organization."

Griffith smiled and shook his head: "I'm afraid not, I'm not from Las Vegas, I'm here to travel."

"travel?"

"Well...you could call it a vacation, too."

"Vacation?" Lucy looked incredulous, "You walked the most boring five neighborhoods in Las Vegas and finally joined a gay equality organization—vacation?"

Griffith also found it funny: "Well, I'm experiencing life."

"Forget it." Lucy took a flyer and wrote a string of numbers and an address on the back, "Tomorrow Christmas, Mariah and I have a party, everyone is the same, do you want to come? At least let your A less boring end to the holidays."

"Oh." Griffith took the leaflet, "Okay, I'll go back and discuss it."

"discuss?"

"I came with my friend. If he wants to spend Christmas with his family, I will go." Griffith folded the flyer into his pocket. "Would you like to keep going?"

Lucy shook her head: "Go back, it's time for Mariah to close the stall."

Griffith's cell phone rang. Lucy held the flyer for him, Griffith glanced at it before connecting, it was Reid.

There is only one room card in the hotel. Reid left early in the morning, so the room card is at Griffith's place. Reid called to ask him when he would be back.

"I'll be back soon," Griffith gestured to Lucy, telling her to wait, "You wait for me in the lobby."

"Just tell me where you are, and I'll pick you up." Reid complained, "I don't have dinner at the hotel, it's too bad."

Griffith laughed. "Okay, I'm…" He motioned for Lucy with his eyes, who told him cleverly.

Mariah was saying goodbye to the last member when Reid arrived. Lucy stood behind her, playing with her girlfriend's skirt.

"Griffith."

"Hey, Reid." Griffith wiped the whiteboard clean and smiled up at him. "That's coming fast."

"Foster, we'll see you tomorrow!" Lucy was carrying her backpack, and Mariah played with her braids.

"Don't forget the whiteboard." Griffith pushed it into Mariah's hand, "Goodbye."

Lucy jumped up and down with Mariah on her arm, the girl's crisp voice was drowned in the traffic, and there was no trace to be found.

"It seems that you have made good friends?" Reid stretched out his hand and pulled up his companion who was sitting on the ground, "What do you want to eat?"

"Anything but pizza." Griffith patted his clothes, "By the way, will you spend Christmas with your mother tomorrow?"

"Oh, my mother... yes." Reid found that his tongue was not working in despair, "I, I will visit her again tomorrow..."

"And at night?"

"Evening? Evening is not visiting time..."

"Oh." Griffith was a little disappointed.

"What's the matter with you?"

"No, Lucy invited me to their party. I thought if you were going to spend the night with her, I'd go."

"You can go." Reid interrupted him hastily, "Can I go with you too?"

Griffith watched him silently for a moment; he didn't want to come out to his co-workers right now.

"I'll ask her."

Reid nodded. "Um, and...my mom wants to meet you."