Time passes, whether we want it to or not.
I wanted time to pass, so that the loneliness would wash itself out
of my heart. I sat in front of my mother's tombstone, pulling the weeds
too close to the red marble, and brushing the dirt from her chiseled
name. I allowed my fingers to trace the name slowly, fingernails catching
on the rough edges of the stone. My fingers left the groove of the first
letter, moved across the smooth polished surface, and into the next
letter.
"Momma...sometimes I wish I'd never been born at all," I said
softly as the loneliness became overwhelming. The words on the headstone
became blurry to me, but my fingers continued their loving trek across
the stone that bore testament to my mother having been alive once.
The stone didn't answer, and the tears subsided eventually, as they
always did eventually. A light breeze kicked up and brushed some of
my hair across my brow, forcing me to push it from my eyes. My dad was
worried; I wasn't talking much again, since Greg left.
I went to his house that night and learned much, standing on the porch
and hearing the argument inside as it raged between Greg and his parents.
It seems that Caspian Software was in shaky financial position at best,
almost untenable, and the new encoding development meant a lot of people
would keep jobs, even if a great many were headed for San Diego, Greg
and family included. Mrs. C tried to console Greg, I guess they thought
it all was best, unfortunate that he and I would be broken up, but necessary
for many others. Hey, I saw Star Trek; I know Spock said something about
the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few, or the one.
But I still felt like shit when he died.
I knocked at their door, and was allowed in.
Mr. Caspian seemed very sorry, as did his wife, although I would have
told them to save it, had I only been able. Maybe they think nothing
of the relationship they were rending apart, but I just plain didn't
feel that way. I loved Greg, and I knew I always would, but I also
knew that I had to let him go. I couldn't keep him, nor could I leave
my father to chase after him. I had to set him free.
We went upstairs and cuddled for a long time, before he spoke.
"I don't have any choices, Jake. I have to leave. I don't know
what would be worse, staying a few weeks to see you, knowing the time
was coming that I would lose you, or going now and trying to take
all the pain at once," he near whispered in misery.
"And so I'll go, and yet I know I'll think of you each step of
the way," the tears tracked down my face in time with his, and
he began to shake his head no.
"You can't go, Jake," he began to plead, which only made
it harder, but I loved him and I had to do it.
For him.
"Did we intend to be the romantic novel you'd never want to end?"
I asked with a small sad smile.
"Jake, we still have a few days, shouldn't we spend them together?
I don't have to go right away..." he trailed off.
I knew though that this would bring him more pain than if we tried
to break as clean as we could. I owed it to him to be strong, after
all Tommy always said I was the one with the strength.
"Goodbye. Please don't cry, we both know I'm not what you need.
But I will always love you," I said gently, if haltingly through
my own tears and chest hitching for breath. I stood and he stood unsteadily.
"Jake, I love you, and I always will," he sighed and then
hit his bed with both hands in frustration, "I don't even know
how we got here!"
"Just you and me at a crossroads there, accidentally thrown together,"
I took his hand and moved in slowly until I couldn't see that beautiful
pain-wracked face, "And it's the contact with the eye that meets
across the crowded room, and how I kind of wound up the lyrics to
your tune."
I leaned in close and we kissed, the kiss of the desperate, a last
kiss before falling into the abyss, like desperadoes under the eaves.
We finally broke that bittersweet kiss, and I ran my fingers along
his cheek, and murmured softly, "Please remember me."
Then I left, and a few days later so did he. Oh god, I missed him.
I looked at the headstone and brushed the
top off, removing a small twig that marred the stone's attempt at
placid solemnity. When the chips were down, I put Greg ahead of me;
I did what had to be done.
"Didn't I turn out to be everything you wanted, Ma? Ain't you
proud of me?" I said to the indifferent stone.
"Well, she'd probably correct your English, being as she taught
it, you know," my father's voice made me jump.
"Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump," he said as he squatted
on his haunches next to me. I returned my hand to the carved name
on the stone, allowing my fingers to trace the red stone.
"I come here too, sometimes, when I need to feel close to her,"
he said, allowing his own fingers to move across the cut stone. "Did
I ever tell you about the time we met?"
I sat back on my butt, shaking my head 'no' as I watched my father.
"Well, she and I were at college, first year students, and you
are required to take certain first year, basic courses. Some Math,
some English, so on and so forth.
"I was in the same English composition class with your mother,
and, God, she was beautiful. She could make that dull class seem like
Sex Ed, it was so interesting," he laughed.
"I was struggling in the class, and naturally she was excelling,
so she ended up tutoring me. I finally screwed up the courage to ask
her out one night, after she had helped me to write a paper. She said
no, it would be inappropriate since she was assisting me," he
smiled at the memory.
I stared at him expectantly, but he seemed to be lost in the past
for a few minutes, trapped in a memory of a world where I didn't exist
yet and there were no rollovers where cars went upside down, right
side up, upside down, killing mothers and sisters and daughters.
Or make brothers and sons talk in riddles.
He came back from his reverie, looking at
me blankly for a moment. "So, I did the only logical thing I
could do, I fired her," he grinned, "we had a great date,
then another and before you knew it we were out of school, working
and doing the average family complete with two cars and a garage."
We sat there in the fading sunshine, the day looking as though the
colors were fading like old clothes, the vividness blending with the
impending darkness.
"So, ah, I guess you were talking to your mom, huh?" he
asked. I merely nodded in tacit agreement.
"I guess you really were in love, I never thought I'd see it
so young, but it sure was love I saw in your eyes for him, and him
for you," my dad said softly, and my tears began to well anew.
"Sometimes the magic of the past is all we've got," I replied
thickly.
"Yeah, I understand that sure enough. How was it like, for you?
How did you feel about him?" he asked softly. I grunted and tried
to clear my throat.
"Off balance," I smiled at the memory of that first day,
"I found love the only place to fall."
"Do you still?"
"In my heart, in my soul."
"Well, buddy, what say we get pizza?" he asked, I merely
shrugged in response.
Home reminded me of Greg, as everything did.
I recalled how he critiqued my music, the eagerness as I tried to
get him to stay that first night. I remember so well the contours
of his chest as he stood in my kitchen; oblivious to the effect he
was having on me.
"Hey, Jake," Nick said as he entered my room with a short
rap at the door, "how we doing today?"
"Love's got a lot to answer for," I mumbled.
"Oh, jeez, are we going to talk about Greg again?" he sighed
as he sat next to me and draped an arm across my shoulders.
"My best friend," I said as I leaned my head on his shoulder.
"You know, I had hoped you'd have started to get over this a
little by now, I'm a little worried about you, I don't mind saying."
"I've been up all night looking at the big picture," I replied.
"So? You finally going to smarten up and date me?" he asked
in his boldest gambit to date. I looked at him, shocked.
"It's no secret I like you, Tull," he laughed, "at
least not to you. I was joking, man, joking!"
"If you want my body, and you think I'm sexy," I began and
was promptly tackled.
"Of course I do! Take me, Jake, take me now!" he screamed
as we began to laugh.
"Do I need this?" my father asked as he stood in the doorway,
banana in hand.
"Jake, will you hurry up? We'll be late!"
Nick nagged at me while I brushed my teeth. Nick had taken it upon
himself to be my personal attendant and was just about the best friend
you could want, making sure I got to school, classes, he even tried
to dictate some of my diet! He could be a real pain in the ass, but
he was doing it all from love.
Yeah, love. I knew it, and so did he, but
it wasn't what you might think. He never once tried anything, nothing
beyond a little flirting, anyways. Once in a while he would make me
laugh, and that was a rarity. He showed up at the crack of dawn it
seemed and had coffee with my father, god bless him, and then came
upstairs to force me into motion. I admit, I was more than a little
run down without Greg. But it had been three months, wasn't it time
I got over this?
Would I ever?
School had been a lot harder too, without
Greg. I got more flak, more pushing and jostling than was strictly
necessary, and yeah, even outright name-calling. So far nothing I
couldn't ignore, but even a stone is worn down if you pour enough
water across it.
While Nick did everything outside of school, the rest of them tried
to motivate me in school. Tommy was forever harping on my homework,
Mark trying to make me talk, and Jesse, well, Jesse was making eyes
at Trevor who seemed to be noticing that Jesse was filling out nicely.
It was all just going through the motions though, my center was gone
and it became apparent as we slowly began to drift. I don't think
we meant for it to happen, and I don't think we necessarily noticed
it either. The beginning of school saw football and soccer start,
which took Tommy and Mark as well as Trevor. Jesse just sat on the
sidelines and watched. Rich had taken a part time job at the local
Price Cutter, a supermarket chain, and I just didn't see that much
of him anymore.
Oh, and there was Ron.
He was the one person that just couldn't seem to contain himself,
was Ron. If anything he increased the frequency of his petty acts,
adding in a few shoves into lockers and the odd bruise, even tying
my gym clothes into soaking knots before I returned from showering.
Stupid shit, I know, but still it was water passing over me. It never
occurred to me until later that his attacks always were worse after
one of Jesse's so-called 'therapy sessions' whereby it was pointed
out to him that he could simply choose to not be gay. Now, that line
of reasoning takes a special kind of stupid.
He grabbed me once in the hallway, threw me up against the wall and
as I drew a leg up to defend myself, he walked right into my knee.
All of a sudden I had this reputation as a guy with balls, because
I had rammed my knee into his. Ron also thought I had done it purposely,
and strangely it seemed to make him more wary of me.
I hadn't had any trouble for about three days when I went to my locker
after last period. I knew Nick wouldn't be there because he had gone
home early, sick. It was something of a relief to have some time to
myself, not that I didn't love him dearly, but still! As I approached
my locker my nose registered an acrid scent and I was greeted by a
large pink 'fag' written on my locker door. To make matters worse
my lock had been broken, as the dial wouldn't turn. Upon closer inspection
it had been melted, the plastic dial practically glued to the metal
underneath. I studied it for a moment in frustration before going
to search for a janitor who might be able to unlock it with a key,
as the middle of the dial contained a regular lock.
I headed to the stairs - a set was placed in each corner of the building
- and headed downstairs. The first floor is the normal stopping point,
but I pushed through the tan door under the stairs and headed for
the basement. I headed down to the maintenance department, which had
its offices, if you wanted to call it that, and hopefully some assistance.
I always thought this area of the school was interesting, it had underground
tunnels to take it to the junior high and there were underground rooms
and whatnot that gave it a surreal effect. The hallway was poorly
lit, old school equipment like desks and even an old popcorn machine
stood silent sentry in the gloom where it seemed two to three lights
in a row were out or flickering.
I was humming softly to myself and that's probably why I never heard
the footsteps, not until it was too late. I heard the steps and turned
partway as something solid whistled through the air and connected
with my arm with the force of a runaway train. I blanked for a moment,
the pain was so exquisite and immediate, and I stumbled to my left
and crashed into the popcorn machine, the plexiglass cracking loudly
under my weight. I tried to push up on my arm and found the wrist
would not support the weight, and I rolled a bit rather than collapse
as I tried to turn and face my attacker, and as I half turned a second
blow hit my chest, accompanied with a cry of pure hatred. A sickening
wet crack announced ribs giving way, and suddenly it was a labor to
breathe.
I stumbled to one knee, heart hammering in my chest as panic flared
in my mind and I began to scuttle forward.
"No you don't, you little fag mutie boy, I ain't done yet,"
my attacker managed and I heard the steps drawing closer. I turned
painfully and thrust my foot out in desperation. I felt it connect
solidly, and then slide forward as my attacker grunted in pain. I
might have hit a leg, my mind yammered madly about death and trying
to flee.
"Yell Help," I said breathlessly as I struggled to my feet,
leaning heavily on a desk as I did so, and I pirouetted slowly to
try and face my attacker. The flickering light revealed Ron Cantarme
coming at me, clearly favoring his left knee as he closed the distance
with a Louisville Slugger in hand. I tipped the desk I was leaning
on into his path and backed away from him as the murderous intent
in his eyes showed in the fitful shafts of light from the naked overhead
bulbs.
"Bastard, you made Greg a fag. You just won't let my cousin get
any better either, will you? You gotta infect people," he breathed
a bit raggedly as he knocked the table from his path and continued
to advance as I slowly retreated, "but if I take you out, show
'em all you aren't that special, then we'll see, won't we?" he
grinned. "Too late for Greg, but Jesse can still be ok."
Things happened fast then, my hand brushed on a straight backed wooden
chair, and bare moments later he charged with a bellow of rage. Dimly
I heard a janitor yell, probably from the doorway for the workshop
they had down here. My injured ribcage cried out in protest as I lifted
the chair, and assisted with my other hand to ram it in Ron's path.
The chair collapsed in a shower of dust and Ron was on me, hands around
my throat and we went down in a heap, my chest crying out in agony
as our combined weight hit the concrete floor.
Things got a little muddled from there, I dimly remember being hit
in the face, one eye closing real fast and then the crushing weight
was off me, but I was still having a hard time breathing. Strong hands
lifted me gently enough, I suppose, but under the circumstances I
would have been in pain if simply on the ground.. I was half carried,
half dragged even, into the light of the maintenance shop.
"How many fingers you see, buddy?" came a strong voice.
"Fingers?" rattled from my chest in a shattered breath.
"Ok, hang on, we'll get you some help here. Um, here, breathe
slowly," came the voice again. I dimly heard a small scuffle
and then a sharp odor filled my senses, burning my throat and making
my lungs ache worse, if you can believe it. But I was awake.
"Hi, this is Joe down in maintenance, we had a fight just now
and I have a kid down here, looks like he needs some attention real
fast, can we have the school nurse down here, and the assistant principal?
This kid was attacked," he stated firmly.
I think I blanked out for a moment, then I awoke in the nurse's office,
strapped to a flat board. I don't think anyone realized it right away,
and my mind slowly began to tick off the damage. Breathing was difficult
at best, ribs felt like they were resisting any movement at all. My
arm was on fire, a dull ache that flared to life if I so much as twitched.
One eye was closed, the other barely open.
"He seems to be coming around," a voice said and I recognized
a face in my vision.
"How you doing, Jake?" asked Mr. Rockwell, the assistant
principal.
"The show must go on," I replied very softly, lips aching
and feeling split.
"Ok, where is the victim?" a strange voice said with some
urgency.
"Here, on the stretcher," chimed another voice. I was lifted
and moved to a gurney, I think, but the movement caused a flare of
fire in my chest so painful I almost wished I could die, just to have
it over. Maybe my heart had broken too, finally, and this was what
it felt like to die of just that.
"Ok, let's get him moving, we'll get vitals on the way,"
the strange voice said and I began to feel the air move past me as
I rolled down the hallway and out the front door. The wheels rolled
slowly over the doorframe, but the jolt sent a fresh wave of pain,
and nausea decided to join in on the fun. It was like a horse race,
I thought crazily, and I could almost hear the announcer in my head.
'There they go, ladies and gentleman! King of Pain is out to a quick
lead, Nausea staying at a close second, and the dark horse Breaking
Heart is trailing along the inside rail. Nausea swells forward, he
looks to be inching past King of Pain as we mark the first turn,'
I felt the bile building at the back of my throat and the feeling
slowly passed.
I was locked into place in the ambulance, and even the doors slamming
shut rattled the frame and gave King of Pain the advantage by a length.
Each bump in the street felt like an asteroid crashing into my chest
and it seemed as though we would never reach the hospital. Of course,
we did eventually, and I was jostled into the emergency room.
I awoke with the sight of bright lights in
my view, taupe walls that were supposed to be soothing, but which
actually reminded me of puke. Suddenly Nausea made an astounding comeback
and there was no stopping my body as it ejected the contents of my
stomach, chest heaving in agonizing convulsions as my mouth filled
with that awful taste.
It was over as soon as it had come as King of Pain resumed its lead
in this race, muscles throbbing in time with my heart. I lay bonelessly
on my bed.
"I'm Doctor Briscoe, try and relax, Jacob," came a concerned
voice. A white lab coat was the first thing I noticed before the face
registered, a smooth and calm face and a shock of dark hair on his
angular features.
"You had quite a wild ride, still feeling nauseous?" he
asked kindly.
"No," I whispered, "hurts."
"I'm sure it does, I'll order you up some pain meds right now.
Really needed you to regain consciousness before we put you back under,
you've been out for a few hours, shock can do that to a body. You
ready to hear the damage report?" he asked while moving farther
into my field of vision as he shone a light in my eyes, first the
right, then the left. Damage report? Who did he think I was? Captain
Picard?
"You have a broken arm, simple break fortunately, and you have
four cracked ribs. So far no evidence of internal bleeding, but we
are keeping you for observation."
"Dad?" I croaked. It seemed a new horse, Thirst, had entered
the fray.
"Right outside, I'll tell him you're awake. There are some policeman
that want to see you too, I think they'll have to do that tomorrow
though."
"Dad," I repeated.
"Right, I'll go get him," and with that he made a few notes
on the chart on my bed and headed out. A brief murmur of conversation
could be heard.
"Jake," my father's voice cracked and he moved into my field
of vision, a hand tracing my face.
"Jake, how do you feel? Well, that's dumb, I guess you hurt pretty
good.. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, you scared me!" he said, tears
welling in his eyes and at the sight, mine welled up too. Well, my
one eye that was open. I felt him dab my eyes with a napkin or something
and then I could see again.
I have to admit it wasn't much of a conversation, my dad left fairly
quickly, I think my face really was just too much for him. It wasn't
long before the nurse came in and put something in my IV anyway, and
I drifted off.
I awoke to the TV being on, and a ridiculous
urge to pee. I struggled slightly and
realized with some horror that I was going. I mean, going. I looked
down in a panic, pain dulling my senses, otherwise I might have noted
the tube draining away my waste a little faster. Oh well.
"Hey, you're finally awake. I was afraid you might just slip
away from me there, bub," Nick's voice penetrated my haze, then
he filled my vision, concern etched on his face.
"You ok?" he asked.
"I will survivee," I replied softly.
"I was so scared, I can't imagine what it would be like without
you. Makes me think, you know?" he inhaled deeply then let out
his breath, "I was thinking about how some people never get to
know what you really think, or how you really feel. So I just want
you to know, I love you, Jake. I will always be your friend, no matter
what happens," he said with no small degree of conviction. My
eyes went blurry and I felt his lips press softly on mine, a delicate
kiss if there ever was one, and I returned it with as much love as
I could.
"Butterfly kisses," I managed as we parted.
"I saw something interesting in this morning's paper," he
said as he wiped his own eyes and sat down across from me, "Looks
like Caspian Software is going to be spun off," he commented
as he watched me intently. I and looked at him steadily.
"I'm guessing that means you didn't see the paper?" he smiled,
"Well, turns out that the Justice Department was charging that
the new encoding software that Caspian had developed was a little
too important. Seems as though it creates an unfair market advantage,
therefore they will have to be spun off, free to peddle their wares
to the highest bidder," he finished as he studied my reaction.
Naturally he had my complete attention, pains still there but for
a moment I could stave them off.
If Caspian was on its own again, might they take up their corporate
offices again? Might that mean that Greg would return?
"Well, there is a smile I haven't seen in a while!" he commented
somewhat sadly.
"It's going to be a bright, bright, sunshiny day," I responded
with a feeling that maybe things would finally start to get better.
Now if my ribs would just not hurt so much.
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