Leigh Kramer’s Reviews > Heels Over Head > Status Update

“I had to be strong if I wanted anything beyond that love. I wanted respect, you know? I wanted them to care. But it wasn’t until I met you that I realized love could be strength as well. My love for my family never made me stronger . . . it only made me want to be stronger.”

Val and Andrey’s conversation with Brandon...I could weep!

Jeremy hasn’t even apologized yet! A grand gesture only goes so far. I am totally in his corner but come on now. This is Apology 101.

“This is a lifetime of Jeremy being told that he is weak simply because of who he is, what he likes, and who he likes. It’s . . . it’s a boy who doesn’t fit into his father’s definition of being a man, and who wants more than anything to make his family proud.”

I despise Jeremy’s father.

I love how patient Brandon is! I’m worried Jeremy is going to screw things up.

“But he isn’t self-destructive. He only jumps if he knows there’s a reasonable chance he’ll be okay when he lands. He’s safe about it . . . as safe as someone like him can be.”

Jeremy’s dad is the WORST and I hate that Jeremy still wants his approval. He needs to break away from his toxic family!

“I doubt this is what Jeremy meant when he wanted me to apply myself, because I still don’t care about winning some medal, or getting to the Olympics. But I’ll compete against him and against his bullshit idea that I’m nothing. He’s just a skeleton hiding away behind a closed door. I’m standing out in the sunshine, and I’m ready to shine.”

“The way that Jeremy lashed out with homophobia when I came out to him isn’t surprising. Me and Aaron have a word for people like him. We call them skeletons—people so far into the closet that they die there, decompose, never willing to step out into the light. Jeremy is the worst type of skeleton, though, because he’s not only afraid . . . he’s hateful.”

Brandon doesn’t care about winning/competing? I get that he came late to diving but this so unexpected for an athlete.