I had long realized that someone's upbringing does not always match their values, their fortitude, or their principles of humanity, but I was still shocked by how unrecognizable the envy deformed most of my school colleagues. “I know a lot of people with PhDs. My husband could do it too if he wanted to. But we rather invested in the new roof,” I heard Mara, and the anger in her voice. I really thought we were friends and that she would be happy for me. Some colleagues acted as if a PhD was something very, very wrong, but they let me know that they could get one too, if they only wanted to. Other colleagues, who I usually didn't have much contact with, were using the information about my being gay to hurt me. Years ago, when I started working in our high school, a colleague asked me if I would like to be part of the project that was supposed to raise awareness of human rights among pupils. I was very enthusiastic about it, that is, until she said: “You know I like minorities and so on… I have no prejudices! Well, aside from... I don't like gays. I simply couldn't work with a gay person!” And after years of teaching about human rights, he now heard that I was gay! With the pride of an idiot she looked me in the eyes and said: “Those pupils are impossible! Just a minute ago... in class... one boy grabbed the other between the legs. I asked him if he didn't have a girlfriend. He replied, “Why would I need a girl if I can have him every day?” You can imagine how wanted they are... Sick! Sick!" "Oh, is that so?" I said, completely lost in his stupidity. "It must be because there is a gay teacher among us!" he executed the grand finale of his attack on me. How come... in the middle of the paper...?" he asked. “No one did!” “Those people who can't tell me things directly don't exist for me,” he said. “It might be time for you to write them off.” And so I did, slowly. It took me months to fully recover. And there was another disappointment: my faculty mentor stole my scientific paper. He knew the publisher and they removed my name to make him the sole and first author. I wrote a very harsh letter to the editor and he published the corrigendum in the next issue. But once again I was disillusioned. I had to realize once again that values ​​don't always go hand in hand with education level. What misfortune my mentor got into! Even in this situation Ron was always with me, showing me that he loved me. At first I couldn't believe him; I couldn't believe he would stay with me, but he convinced me. He showed me what love is.