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Tom had waited too long, so long that he’d reached the point where he was unable to respond. Fear controlled every molecule of his being. But when Lucia gave him the address—something stirred. Determination. He rushed to the house belonging to the boy of his dreams, but even upon his arrival, fear halted his advance. A myriad of thoughts clouded his mind; was it worth it?
Sea-green eyes scanned the home from inside his patrol car. He felt the pounding of his heart grow more violent, as if ready to burst from his chest. His limbs felt heavy, but Tom forced himself to open the car door and step outside. Once he’d approached the entrance he hesitated knocking when he heard a familiar voice.
His attention turned to a nearby window, and there he was: Jake, sobbing into a phone call with… Miriam? The realization that they stayed in touch stung at his heart as guilt stirred in the pit of his stomach.
“I want him to be better.” Jake’s words were laced with such anguish. “I’m sorry, Miriam. I’m just… so tired.” Tom’s heartstrings were tugged by these words. A part of his subconscious screamed. Go to him. Don’t let him be alone. Go to him!
“I really thought… he was the one—” As Jake spoke those words, he turned to face the window. In that instant his eyes met a pair of familiar green.
Everything froze at that moment. The ambient sound of the street lights buzzing, the gentle breeze of wind rustling the bushes. Not a sound could be heard—save for the beat of a heart. Tom’s breath caught in his throat, his wide-eyed stare locked onto the blue-haired boy. He was paralyzed.
“...Tom!?” Jake shouted, rushing to the window.
“Jake I—” Tom stammered. He was caught, and he had no explanation–his mind coming up with nothing but blanks.
Jake pried the window open with strength enough he may have ripped it from the wall. No tangible barrier stood between the two of them—after all this time, within arms reach.
“How are you… here?” Jake asked in full bewilderment.
“I uh, was… In the neighborhood…” A lie.
“Two years. Two fucking years and you were just in the neighborhood ?!”
The anger in his voice struck like daggers—no malice in his tone, only pain.
“Jake I… I wanted to see you again. I…” Tom struggled to find the words. Speech was always a difficult point for him.
“Not one text? Not one call? You just. Show up?”
“I wanted to! I really did, but it just—”
“Just what? ”
Miriam on the phone had fallen silent. Was she listening?
“I… was afraid.”
Tom averted his gaze and folds his arms across his chest. His sea-green hues trembled.
“Afraid of what?” Jake’s anger eased and instead was replaced with concern.
“Hurting you again. Hurting you more. Failing. I… Don’t want to do that to you.”
Jake’s grip tightened on the phone. “You’ve hurt me already.”
“Don’t you think I don’t know that?!” Tom snapped, a steady flow of tears running down his cheeks. “I didn’t want to hurt you more than I already have!”
“You could’ve said something! Anything!”
Jake wasn’t wrong, and that’s what hit Tom the hardest. He knew not what to say in response, but a voice on the phone spoke up. Tom couldn’t make out the muffled words until Jake put it on speaker.
“Now you youngin’s better listen here.” A familiar antiquated voice. “Tom, you could’ve called! Jake’s been worried sick about you. Jake, he’s finally here now! Sounds like he’s been aching as much as you and my arthritis.” Neither of them were about to argue with Miriam of all people. “I’m already on my way for you, Jake. Tom, why don’t you come with us and we can have some tea to talk this all over?”
Tom felt his heart skip a beat. He couldn’t help wondering if Jake was amenable to this idea. Judging by the conflict in his face he couldn’t determine one way or the other.
A long, drawn out breath expels from the blue-haired man. “Fine. I just… Can’t be here anymore.”
“And you won’t!” Miriam chimes in. “Now, I’m pulling up and you boys better be ready.”
Tom and Jake exchanged another look.
“I need to grab a few things.” Jake turned, disappearing back into the room to grab some of his belongings.
Tom remained outside, staring out into the street. A few moments later he saw a familiar woman in a green sweater pulling up in her car. Her storied-eyes met Tom’s, a look of pain and disappointment. A motherly stare he hadn’t seen in some time. She stepped out of the car and approached Tom. Her stern, focused stare turned into a warm smile as she looked him in the eye.
“It’s good to see you, whippersnapper. I’m sure Jake thinks so too.”
A smile slowly formed across Tom’s expression. A sense of hope filled him. He turns his attention to the door as it opens, Jake stepping outside with a bag.
“Let’s go.”
“Of course dear. You don’t need to stay here any longer.”
Miriam rushed to Jake to give him a comforting embrace. She and Jake hopped into her car, with Tom returning to his police vehicle. Miriam gave a wave in her rear-view mirror to instruct Tom to follow. As he turned on the car, his phone went off. A single text from Jake:
“I missed you.”
Tom picked up the phone to give the first reply in far too long.
“I missed you so much more.”