TWO MONTHS PASS - ONE MONTH TO ELECTION DAY
The issue of over my 'social networking' profile passed oddly quickly. Jack seemed to never be around... not that that should have surprised me, but I always got a phone call first thing in the morning and last thing at night "if I can't be there in person, I want to be the first to say good morning, and the last to say good night" Jack said. Normally, I would find this nauseating... but, you quickly discover how forgiving you are when it's directed at you.
The polling has been neck and neck all the way. Jack would lead in one poll, then be down in the next. But I quickly learned to know when to stop being an advisor and start being a boyfriend. I kept up my day to day role in the office, but when we spoke, it was about how much we missed each other, or small, silly things that made up my day.
The relationship I developed with his family, his mother and his older sisters was surprising... In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have been, but I was. They knew I was alone and would invite me for dinner. I would get told how much happier Jack seemed to be since meeting me.
One night, Jack called me, and for the first time, realised he could lose. I realised how much that concept scared him, and since coming out, how much responsibility he felt... but I had to tell him "you're running as you, and win, lose or draw, I love you". It felt so incredibly natural to say this now. Which in itself made me feel weird. We've been together 3 months... but I knew I loved this man... not for who he was, or how he looked... but because he was a wonderful person...
The evening of the second debate emerged. The moderator from the Chicago Tribune asked Jack's opponent, that "while you've made a point of keeping Mr Peter's sexuality off limits, many of your surrogates have been explicitly making the point that you have a deeper understanding of people's issues because you're straight and your opponent is gay" There was a reasonable response to the question... when Jack's turn to respond came... "I find it strange, my opponent is a good man. I have no doubt of this, but to allow these deeply person attacks on my character either says he's employed the wrong people, or he doesn't have control of them. My sexuality is an issue, because I was honest and open about it. It's a huge risk politically, but the people of this state deserve nothing less than the truth. If you believe my being gay is such an impediment that you can't see me performing the role as you hope, then please, don't vote for me"
... Mary, who was watching with me, dug her claws into my thigh... "we either just won this... or lost it big"