Mum and Dad,

I hate the fact that I'm actually writing what I have to say in a letter, but I can't bring myself to say it to your face.

Over the past year, something has been bottling up inside and things were somewhat confirmed over the summer. After camp and even now, I've put coming home off because I've been scared to be honest.

University has changed me a lot, you may not see it because that's the actor in me. What's changed has been me coming to terms with something since I was about 13, which I never wanted to because I didn't like it, but have accepted it and cannot change it.

I don't know if it will surprise you or not, but I'm sure you've had your suspicions, and now I write the word that makes things that extra bit more real. After 6 almost 7 years, I've realised I'm GAY.

There you go, I've said it and I cry as I write. I want to get married and have children, but I've spent months accepting that I can't.

I'm sure you want to ask and question me loads and tell me that it's a phase….but honestly it's not and I am who I am finally.

Me being what I am does not change my personality or how I am, it's just another thing you've learnt about me, like me getting a new hairstyle!

I know that people see homosexuality as an issue, I did and that's why I tried to ignore it; but let me tell you that I have met so many gay people at uni and they are normal people at the end of the day.

I may not be making much sense, but I hope you can comprehend at least some of what I've written.

I hope that now you know, you don't start trying to question me because there's no need. You've just found out that I don't fancy girls, okay?

I've never ever told you who I was going out with, etc, don't know why, but that's how it seems to be. So I don't need to tell you what I get up to as a gay person, like I never did when I was younger - unless you're really that interested.

I hope it hasn't come as a shock. Yes, there are stereotypes and I hope you didn't spot it - girls as friends, dancing, dolls, hair, etc - the signs were there all along and I could not shore them away.

So, that's that. I've gone out now, so that you can spend time reading this and hopefully accepting it as another thing. I wish I wasn't gay, but I am and there's no changing me. I'm happy, my friends are happy for me and my life in Bournemouth is great. I wish it could be the same here.

I don't know if telling my brothers is a good idea. If you don't think you can handle it as a secret, fine. Up to you two.

So, I'll be back later tonight. All I ask is for you to write something back on this, so I know I can come back home in comfort.

I never say this, and have never shared this, but I love you both very much and the reason I've been the troublesome teenager I have been is because of this 7 year long secret. Now that it's out, perhaps things will be better.

I love you both very much.

N