Ryan, meanwhile, had been grappling with his feelings. Witnessing the cruelty Alex endured had shaken him, and he began to question the societal norms he had always accepted. He started to educate himself about LGBTQ+ issues, reading articles and watching documentaries.

One evening, Ryan sat down with his parents and had a candid conversation about what he had learned. “I think we need to be more open-minded,” he said. “People like Alex deserve our support, not our judgment.”

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His parents listened, and though they were initially hesitant, they began to understand Ryan’s perspective. It was a small but significant step towards change.