Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2024 12:31:08 -0600
From: Mitchel <awriter3827@gmail.com>
Subject: True Love Knows no Bounds Part 6

True Love Knows no Bounds – Part VI
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As I lay there in bed, lost in my thoughts as to why I let this man rule my
life when he doesn't even really appear to be part of it.  Of all the times
over the past eight years that I've been out here, he's probably come to
visit me 20 times at most – and that's being generous.  Twenty times
over 8 years.  What the fuck was wrong with me?  I've had so many
opportunities and just threw them all away and why? For one man.  A man who
no less wanted and did the same thing with his own father but got burned.
And somehow I end up being the one that suffers.  It was at this moment
that I sat up in bed and just said "NO MORE!"

I got up, found the tightest pair of jeans that I had, a form fitting shirt
but on my leather boots and went out the door to go and enjoy myself too.
I was living in the gay mecca of the world.  I knew I was good looking, I
got the stares all the time.  At 6'5", blue eyes, and dirty blonde hair a
bubble ass, and muscles to boot.  I knew I could get anything I wanted.  It
may not be who I've wanted for as long as I could remember but, I had to
keep reminding myself that he didn't want me.

As I made my way through the Castro, I walked straight towards The Look
Out.  I knew I'd be able to pick up anything I wanted there.  Hell maybe
I'd even find something descent.  Doubtful but hey you never know.  As I
push my way through the crowd towards the bar, I heard a voice from behind,

"JOE!"

	"Hey Steve."

"What the fuck are you doing here?  I've never seen you out on a Friday
night.  And damn, you look great!"

	"Thanks bud.  I just figured I was tired of being mopey and alone
and enough was enough.  I know strange coming from me after we talked but I
don't know something just flipped in me tonight that I just decided, fuck
it.  I'll try again and if I fail it's not like it hasn't happened before."

"Dude, I can guarantee you. You won't fail.  Let's get something to drink.
I think I know just the guy for you."

That was an odd statement coming from Steve.  While we have known each
other for years and he knows the guys that I've tried with, he also knows
everything else.  And the fact that he said it so quickly made me wonder
what he had up his sleeve.  Nevertheless, I followed him to the bar,
ordered myself a martini.  I'm not usually a drinker, a beer or two is
usually my limit and hard liquor is not often on my menu ever.  But I
figured if I'm going to change, might as well change everything.  As I we
were waiting for the drinks to be made Steve looked at me and said,

"I'm thrilled that you came out tonight.  But knowing you as long as I do,
what suddenly changed in your mind that you decided to leave your little
bubble and actually try and enjoy your life?"

	"You know Steve, honestly I don't really know or understand it
myself.  I was staring out the window like I usually do and then went and
layed down in my bed, and I finally just asked myself why the fuck am I
toruturing myself for something that's never ever going to happen?"

"Well, whatever made that realization happen, I'm thrilled that it did.
Because you have so much potential and I know you're not blind, people
drool after you, just like half of them here are now.  And I'm proud of
you."

	"Thanks, but tell me something.  You made a statement a few minutes
ago that you have just the guy for me.  Just how did that come about.  And
you and I are very similar, and have relatively the same taste, so why
haven't you gone for him?"

"Simple.  I already tried and he turned me down.  But I will bet my balls
on the fact that he won't turn you down.  Nor will you have any issue
getting hard with him.  And if he turns you down too, then he's a damned
fool.  Now you've got your drink lets go.  He's on the back balcony."  I
followed him over there wondering just who this guy was and why he turned
him down and secondly, why Steve was so sure that he'd be interested in me.
It wasn't until I wasn't until I walked onto the balcony and caught sight
of a pair of eyes that I hadn't seen in more years than I could count.

"Joe, I'd like to introduce you to my good friend Adam."  We both just
stood there staring at each other as if we had never seen each other
before, but at the same time had known each other for years and didn't know
what to say to each other.  As I was just standing there staring, I was
shaken out of my revere by Steve saying, "If I didn't know better, I would
say that the two of you already knew each other."

	"Hi Sam."

"Hi Joe, been a long time."

	"Yes it certainly has.  I did not expect to find you here of all
places."

"Nor did I you.  But I'm certainly not disappointed either."

"Wait a second.  You do know each other??  How?"  I just looked at Steve
and then back at Adam.  And he just smiled at me.

	"Steve, well normally I would say I'd like you to meet, but since
that part is already done, Steve, not sure how you're going to take this,
but Adam is my brother.  And before you even ask I haven't seen him in
almost 10 years.  We weren't exactly the best of friends at home and
haven't spoken since I started undergraduate at Stanford.  So, it's been
quite a long time since I've seen or spoken to him."  I had to hold in my
laughter as I looked at the shock on Steve's face.  I know he wanted to say
something but nothing was coming out of his mouth.  I then looked back at
Adam.

"Joe, I think it's time we do talk, and not here."  I just nodded at him
and then said to Steve,

	"Thank you for introducing us, but I think I need to talk to him
and not in a bar.  Listen I'll give you a call tomorrow and I'll try and
explain everything as best I can."  He just silently nodded his head, and
motioned for Adam to follow outside of the bar and onto Market Street, I
just looked at him and asked,

	"What the hell are you doing here?  Where did you come from? How
long have you been here?  And you're gay??"

"Well, it's nice to see you again too, but I know this must be a bit of a
shock for you.  But I'll try and explain it all."  I just looked at him and
nodded.

"Joe, I know we weren't exactly best friends growing up and you spent most
of your time with dad anyway so we never really connected or got to grow up
together.  I've only been in San Fracisco for the last two days.  I've been
living in New York up until then down on the lower east side."

	"Well, it never appeared that you wanted to spend anytime with me
anyway.  You were always off with your friends and pretty much ignored me,
so I had nowhere else to turn but to dad.  What was I supposed to do?"

"I know and I'm sorry for that.  I wish it would have been different.  But
I'd like to make it better now if you're willing to at least try.  But
there's also another reason that I came out here.  I needed to tell you
something really important, and I felt that it needed to be done in person
and not over the phone."  Now I had a pit in my stomach that something was
really wrong here.

	"What is it?"

"Listen, um, uggh I don't know how to say this gently."

	"Just fucking say it already!"

"Joe, Dad passed away tw-"

	"WHAT? What the fuck do you mean he passed away?? I just spoke to
him last week. He was perfectly fine!"  I had tears streaming down my
face. I had so much running through my head I didn't even know what to do
or say I basically just collapsed into Adam's arms.

"Joe, come on lets get you home, or we can go back to my hotel.  I'm just
down the street."

	"NO! I need to know what happened and why the fuck NO ONE called
me! And I need to know NOW!"

"OK, first I also want you to know that I do know how you feel about Dad.
I know what you told him and also what happened.  But I also want you to
know the real reason Dad has said no to you for all these years.  Joe he's
been sick for over 15 years with a rare heart thing and was on a million
medications, and treatments but they told him that there was no cure and
this was going to be the inevitable result.  He just didn't have the heart
to tell you because of how much you loved him and what it would do to you
if you were involved with each other."  I just sat there stunned.  I had no
words I couldn't believe what had just been said to me.  It made no sense.
He never looked sick, he didn't appear out of shape or anything.

"We all told him to just tell you but he wouldn't do it.  I'm so sorry Joe.
I can't even imagine what you are feeling right now.  But I'm here for
you."

	"Adam, I'm worn out, and still processing what you told me.  Just
take me home."

"Absolutely, just show me the way."

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