DEPOIS DO CÂNCER TIVE MEDO DE DECEPCIONAR MEUS PAIS POR SER GAY | Histórias para ouvir lavando louça

At 13, Gabriel learned he had cancer, and from that moment on, his life as a child, entering pre-adolescence, changed completely. He began to worry about staying alive while his friends played video games. But things got more difficult when, mid-treatment, he began to realize he was gay. During this time, Gabriel always felt he was causing his parents a hard time. This consumed him deeply. Therefore, he tried everything he could to suppress his feelings and who he was so as not to hurt or disappoint his parents—who, in his mind, had already suffered enough. For several years, he repressed himself in every way, including holding back tears at many moments in his life, so as not to disappoint his parents in any way. Everything changed when, at 16, he had a recurrence of the disease and began to question the time he spent living for others while pretending to be something he wasn't. Gabriel's second cancer made him realize, even at such a young age, that life is too short to stop being who you are for others. After all, those who love us will accept us no matter what, right? The beautiful thing was that, when he came out, he saw how much the people around him welcomed him and never considered him a burden. His sister was the first to learn about his sexuality and reassure him. His friends were also an important part of the process, as were his parents, who, despite a somewhat awkward beginning, now form Gabriel's support group beyond blood ties. "Stories to Listen to While Washing Dishes" is a ter.a.pia podcast hosted by Alexandre Simone and Lucas Galdino. To learn more about ter.a.pia, visit historiasdeterapia.com. To join the WhatsApp group and receive stories from the channel and podcast in advance, just contribute at apoia.se/historiasdeterapia. Editing: Felipe Dantas Script: Luigi Madormo