Today my high school is doing the Day of Silence. It's to stand up for people who can't stand up for themselves and get bullied. The GSA/SAGA organized the event and I am part of that. I unable to talk all day to show my support. As part of the LGBT+ community this is important to me and I felt the need to write something for it.

Roman is mute. It's hard being in high school, unable to talk to pears, especially when you're so dramatic and seems to want to make comment about everything. Roman wanted to be an actor, wanted to be popular, and cool. His inability to talk prevents him. Sure most students still find him amazing. He's dramatic and even without saying anything he still manages to draw attention to himself, but there are other students who despise him. The mute student who is steadily become more and more popular despite his problem. He's taking the spot light and some don't like that. They used to bully him because he has no voice. He couldn't say anything to defend himself. He was easy to target. When people found out Roman's preference for boys it got worse. Now the bullies had more on him. They cornered him in the halls and shout mean words at him. Words I won't even write for my own self esteem. Roman can't stand up for himself. He's out numbered, he can't speak, and scared. This happened for weeks. No one did anything. Not until it got physical. The first time Roman was punched was the first time anyone said anything.

"Hey!" The new kid shouts over the crowd. Roman recognized the kid who first came into his class this morning. The kid wore glasses and a blue polo. A grey cardigan tied around his shoulders. Roman had observed the kid and noticed he was nice and always smiling. If only Roman could remember his name.

"What?" The main bully growled turning to the approaching kid.

"Stop that." The kid growled back. This was different than what Roman had seen earlier. This was aggressive not kind.

"Mind your own business or you'll be next." The bullies said rudely. The kid growled again and with strength Roman wouldn't have guessed the kid had he punched the bully in the jaw. Roman flinched at the crack sound and the small splatter of blood that landed on the floor. The other bullies ran for it and the main one held his jaw in shock.

"Go." The kid yelled. The last bully ran away. The kid then dropped to his knees in front of Roman and checked the bruise that was beginning to form. "Are you ok?" Roman nodded to the kid. "I'm Patton. I'll help you to the nurse." Patton helped Roman stand up and together they walked to the nurse.

"Roman!" The nurse gasped. She turned to Patton. "What happened?"

"Someone punched him." Patton explained. The nurse nodded and went to work rubbing some cream of the bruise.

"What about your hand?" The nurse asked eyeing the blood on Patton's hand. Patton sheepish rubbed it off.

"It's not mine. I may have punched the kid after he hit... Roman?"

"Yes Roman. Thank you for protecting him. This isn't the first time bullies have given Roman trouble but I don't think he's ever been hit before."

"May I ask why the bullies pick on Roman?" Patton asks.

"Roman is mute." Patton gasped. "And apparently gay as well, student don't particularly like that." The nurse explained.

"But... He can't help that... So what if he can't talk. And there's nothing wrong with being gay. I'm gay but no one has ever given me trouble." Patton's eyes filled with tears. "That's not fair.." Roman hugged the crying kid.

"No it's not fair. I agree with you." The nurse said. Patton hugged the mute kid back and smiled at him.

"I'll protect you now. Gays defend each other right?" Patton said. Roman smiled back and nodded. He took out a pen and quickly wrote his number on Patton's arm. "I'll text you later?" Roman nodded again. "Great!"

It didn't take long for the two gays to become friends after that. They quickly became closer than friends to. Patton was always there to defend his mute friend and Roman was always grateful.