characteresque

character :: Wesley Patterson

When Wesley was adopted by a loving, Christian couple as a young child, he thought all of his problems were behind him. After all, they were selfless people, having already adopted five children in need years before and with a child of their own, there were more than enough people that Wesley could call his own: his family. But the group disagreed; their focus wasn't on 'bonding' or creating a blended family for Wesley to fall into: their focus was on God and ensuring that He was intertwined in every aspect of their life, even if that meant a strict, and slightly bizarre, upbringing.

Of course it was strange to have multiple crucifixes in every room, bible quotes to observe on every dish, furniture and cloth in the home and yes, it was difficult to repent for even the smallest mistake but Wesley wasn't one to complain about the potential for a loving home so he, as his other siblings did, stayed silent and observed the household rules without question. It was this image that all of the Pattersons put off: one of a godly, strict and religious upbringing of traditions and values, something that they felt was lost in translation over the most recent decade and should be re-established to maintain that idealistic America. But, as Wesley would be taught, there can be no 'traditions or values' if the very basis for them were crumbling as the ground of conventional upbringings were being worn away by the need for progression and sin. Wesley argued they should fight for their beliefs but his mother shook her head: the Pattersons didn't dirty their hands for anyone or anything...but they knew someone who would fight their battle for them, perhaps even win. And from that moment on, all Wesley heard about through his childhood and teenage years was the most dreaded name of all: Westboro.

It was this group of hate that shaped Wesley's opinion about his relationship with his religion, causing him to doubt his own belief and shun the Lord...until Wesley's bi-curious sexuality reared its ugly head for the first time. Unsure of what to do, Wesley tried to hide it beneath denial and self-doubt but his attraction for a boy in his class grew until he could no longer focus on anything but his own insecurity. Then, as he lay in bed one night, his mind wandered to a long forgotten place of acceptance when Wesley realized...it was this place of warmth and love that he needed to be, it was with the Lord. From that moment on, Wesley no longer wondered whether he was deserving of His love - he could feel it in everything he did and no one, not even his family could take that away from him - though some of them certainly tried.

Wesley knew he must escape or else, risk being outed. Through the grapevine, Wesley heard of another Westboro member that dared to make the escape, a man whom Wesley briefly met named Royce, who was well-known to most of the donors. He had disappeared in the night but had resurfaced in Chicago where he was living in sin with another man that the congregation determined to be his boyfriend. Accusations and threats began to fly from all parties and it was this anger that Wesley hoped would distract them all from his own escape. Not even a year after Royce's disappearance, Wesley hopped the first bus he could and traveled to Chicago with his own hopes and dreams.

Beneath the shadow of night, Wesley experiences freedom for the first time and ultimately, accepts an offer that will change the course of his life forever. Under the watchful eye of Blake, an information broker who lives in solitude well outside the bustling city, Wesley evolves from a young, immature youth looking to escape his family's hefty religious expectations into an independent, God-loving man who wants nothing more than to be happy.

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