Hospital Bed
This is Their Love
“So, I don’t mean to be that boyfriend, but when am I going to meet your parents?” Frank asked his significant other as they strolled through the town park with coffees in their hands. Gerard stayed silent for a while, taking a couple of sips from his black coffee before nodding his head thoughtfully.
“Well, I could take you to meet my father right now, but my mother is working late so that’ll have to wait. Is that okay with you?” Gerard asked. He turned his head to look a Frank with a smile that had a type of feel to it that Frank couldn’t explain.
“Of course,” Frank answered with a smile.
“Great. It’s going to be sun down in a couple more hours so we should have plenty of time,” Gerard murmured as he picked up his pace and led Frank down a couple of blocks before stopping front of a dirt road.
“Your parents are separated?” Frank asked. He was confused because he’d been to Gerard’s home before and it was the opposite way he’d been led.
“Yes, you can say that. Come on,” Gerard said quietly as he led him down the dirt trail. They walked for well over half an hour before Frank finally got the confidence to ask,
“How much further is it, Gee?” He asked. He looked up ahead and Gerard and saw him smiling.
“It’s right here,” he answered as they both came to a complete stop. Frank expected to see a small house, something that was completely alive. He wasn’t expecting to be standing in front of a cemetery. In the entire few years he’d known Gerard, he’d never brought up his parents. Sure, he sometimes spoke of the insane things this quirky mother did, but never his father. Frank assumed that they didn’t have a very good relationship, because that’s how the majority of teen boys and their fathers were. It never even crossed his mind that Gerard’s dad might’ve been… not alive. Frank’s grip on Gerard’s hand tightened as they walked through the gate entrance. With Gerard leading the way, Frank kept his eyes completely focused on his back. Once Gerard stopped, he knew they were at his father’s plot.
“Here he is, Frank.” Was all Gerard could think to say. Bringing someone to a place so private and personal was something he never did. He never even came with his mother, only by himself. He’d spend a lot of time sitting in the dirt, mud, snow, heat, or leaves (depending on what season it was) just talking to him and giving him an update on his life. The man buried right in front of them wasn’t Gerard’s real father, but he was more like a dad than his biological father was. He never knew who his real father was, but he really didn’t want to know either because he never felt like he was missing a part of himself. Jack, his dad, was someone who took what emptiness he would’ve had from his father bailing on him and his mother and filled it with playing catch, playing guitar, rocking out to music together, family dinners, and board games.
“Dad, this is Frank. The man I love,” he said quietly. Talking to his father out loud, even by himself, was difficult, but having another person there felt suffocating. He took a deep breath and slowly looked at Frank, prepared to have the possibility of him freaking out in his face and leaving. He didn’t doubt Frank’s love for him, but keeping a death as significant as this away from the person you love seemed like a type of bad thing to do. He didn’t really like to talk about Jack too much, and it’s not because he doesn’t love. It’s because he loves him that he can’t, talking about him just reminds himself that he was really gone. It was that crushing feeling in your chest and that sinking in your head that was unwelcome. The unimaginable pain of emptiness that came when the realization sank in another centimeter was enough to cause one death all on its own. Frank didn’t have a horrified look on his face, instead he had tears in his eyes and his other hand covering his mouth. Frank’s eyes shifted from Jack’s headstone to Gerard’s eyes and he hugged him tightly.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Frankie. I don’t really like to talk about Jack too much,” Gerard whispered in his ear. Frank shook his head in understanding as he pulled away, wiping his tears.
“No, that’s all right. I understand,” Frank said. He turned away from Gerard to face Jack’s grave.
“Hi, Jack. As Gerard said, I’m Frank. I really love him, and I wanted to tell you that you did a very good job in bringing him up.” Frank took a seat on the ground next to Jack’s head stone as Gerard gave him a look of amazement. “I’m sure you’ve seen Gerard’s drawings, right? Well, he won’t let me see them! Me, being the curious individual that I am, have made it a goal to see at least one of them. You know what he does that I love? He smiles. No matter what, he always has a smile on his face. He could be having the worst day ever and his smile would save the both of us. I feel like I don’t deserve him most of the time, but our relationship isn’t about who deserves what, it’s about how much we love each other. And I promise you that I love your son more than anyone in the world,” he said. Gerard’s eyes teared up as he tried to hide his smile, but found that to be impossible. Soon enough, the sun started to set and the man locking up politely told them it was time to leave. They both nodded and Gerard helped Frank up and gave Jack’s headstone a hug as Frank dusted off his pants. As Gerard was turning away, he froze at the sight of Frank hugging Jack as well. It made him cry all over again. Frank held him on the way out as they walked back down the long, dusty trail.
“I’m sure he was the nicest man ever,” Frank said quietly as they neared the main road. Gerard smiled at him and nodded thoughtfully.
“He really was. I’m sure you would’ve loved him.”
“What makes you think I don’t?” Frank asked him. Gerard smiled once again, knowing that Frank was right. Frank was an amazing individual. He always wondered why he didn’t have any more friends, but then the selfish side of him was glad because he was able to have Frank all to himself. He loved him more than anything. He was really surprised, though, that he never grew bored of him. The only interesting thing that Gerard ever did was draw, because it was something he did with Jack. Lately, though, he’d been more interested drawing Frank doing different things, and his recent “masterpiece” consisted of a naked Frank laying on his bed with a blanket his private. Gerard really would draw ‘it,’ but he’d never seen it and it was much early in their relationship to do so anyway. They’d only been dating for three years, and that was much too soon for making love.
“That’s true. You love everyone,” Gerard replied.
“Hey! I’m not that easy. I only love you, your family, and my family,” Frank said as he playfully smacked his hard. Gerard giggled, and the rest of their walk was made in silence. This was something they both secretly loved; the silence between when they were doing something simple made the memory somehow more imprinted into their minds as something they would never forget no matter what they did. They were the couple you saw cooking breakfast together while listening to oldies, the type of couple to watch so many movies together and reenact their favorite scenes together, the type of couple who were so natural in their way of living together.
Gerard and Frank found love that can only be found once in a person’s lifetime, and it was something that couldn’t be destroyed by anything. It was strong to survive the passage of time…
Wasn’t it?
“Well, I could take you to meet my father right now, but my mother is working late so that’ll have to wait. Is that okay with you?” Gerard asked. He turned his head to look a Frank with a smile that had a type of feel to it that Frank couldn’t explain.
“Of course,” Frank answered with a smile.
“Great. It’s going to be sun down in a couple more hours so we should have plenty of time,” Gerard murmured as he picked up his pace and led Frank down a couple of blocks before stopping front of a dirt road.
“Your parents are separated?” Frank asked. He was confused because he’d been to Gerard’s home before and it was the opposite way he’d been led.
“Yes, you can say that. Come on,” Gerard said quietly as he led him down the dirt trail. They walked for well over half an hour before Frank finally got the confidence to ask,
“How much further is it, Gee?” He asked. He looked up ahead and Gerard and saw him smiling.
“It’s right here,” he answered as they both came to a complete stop. Frank expected to see a small house, something that was completely alive. He wasn’t expecting to be standing in front of a cemetery. In the entire few years he’d known Gerard, he’d never brought up his parents. Sure, he sometimes spoke of the insane things this quirky mother did, but never his father. Frank assumed that they didn’t have a very good relationship, because that’s how the majority of teen boys and their fathers were. It never even crossed his mind that Gerard’s dad might’ve been… not alive. Frank’s grip on Gerard’s hand tightened as they walked through the gate entrance. With Gerard leading the way, Frank kept his eyes completely focused on his back. Once Gerard stopped, he knew they were at his father’s plot.
“Here he is, Frank.” Was all Gerard could think to say. Bringing someone to a place so private and personal was something he never did. He never even came with his mother, only by himself. He’d spend a lot of time sitting in the dirt, mud, snow, heat, or leaves (depending on what season it was) just talking to him and giving him an update on his life. The man buried right in front of them wasn’t Gerard’s real father, but he was more like a dad than his biological father was. He never knew who his real father was, but he really didn’t want to know either because he never felt like he was missing a part of himself. Jack, his dad, was someone who took what emptiness he would’ve had from his father bailing on him and his mother and filled it with playing catch, playing guitar, rocking out to music together, family dinners, and board games.
“Dad, this is Frank. The man I love,” he said quietly. Talking to his father out loud, even by himself, was difficult, but having another person there felt suffocating. He took a deep breath and slowly looked at Frank, prepared to have the possibility of him freaking out in his face and leaving. He didn’t doubt Frank’s love for him, but keeping a death as significant as this away from the person you love seemed like a type of bad thing to do. He didn’t really like to talk about Jack too much, and it’s not because he doesn’t love. It’s because he loves him that he can’t, talking about him just reminds himself that he was really gone. It was that crushing feeling in your chest and that sinking in your head that was unwelcome. The unimaginable pain of emptiness that came when the realization sank in another centimeter was enough to cause one death all on its own. Frank didn’t have a horrified look on his face, instead he had tears in his eyes and his other hand covering his mouth. Frank’s eyes shifted from Jack’s headstone to Gerard’s eyes and he hugged him tightly.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Frankie. I don’t really like to talk about Jack too much,” Gerard whispered in his ear. Frank shook his head in understanding as he pulled away, wiping his tears.
“No, that’s all right. I understand,” Frank said. He turned away from Gerard to face Jack’s grave.
“Hi, Jack. As Gerard said, I’m Frank. I really love him, and I wanted to tell you that you did a very good job in bringing him up.” Frank took a seat on the ground next to Jack’s head stone as Gerard gave him a look of amazement. “I’m sure you’ve seen Gerard’s drawings, right? Well, he won’t let me see them! Me, being the curious individual that I am, have made it a goal to see at least one of them. You know what he does that I love? He smiles. No matter what, he always has a smile on his face. He could be having the worst day ever and his smile would save the both of us. I feel like I don’t deserve him most of the time, but our relationship isn’t about who deserves what, it’s about how much we love each other. And I promise you that I love your son more than anyone in the world,” he said. Gerard’s eyes teared up as he tried to hide his smile, but found that to be impossible. Soon enough, the sun started to set and the man locking up politely told them it was time to leave. They both nodded and Gerard helped Frank up and gave Jack’s headstone a hug as Frank dusted off his pants. As Gerard was turning away, he froze at the sight of Frank hugging Jack as well. It made him cry all over again. Frank held him on the way out as they walked back down the long, dusty trail.
“I’m sure he was the nicest man ever,” Frank said quietly as they neared the main road. Gerard smiled at him and nodded thoughtfully.
“He really was. I’m sure you would’ve loved him.”
“What makes you think I don’t?” Frank asked him. Gerard smiled once again, knowing that Frank was right. Frank was an amazing individual. He always wondered why he didn’t have any more friends, but then the selfish side of him was glad because he was able to have Frank all to himself. He loved him more than anything. He was really surprised, though, that he never grew bored of him. The only interesting thing that Gerard ever did was draw, because it was something he did with Jack. Lately, though, he’d been more interested drawing Frank doing different things, and his recent “masterpiece” consisted of a naked Frank laying on his bed with a blanket his private. Gerard really would draw ‘it,’ but he’d never seen it and it was much early in their relationship to do so anyway. They’d only been dating for three years, and that was much too soon for making love.
“That’s true. You love everyone,” Gerard replied.
“Hey! I’m not that easy. I only love you, your family, and my family,” Frank said as he playfully smacked his hard. Gerard giggled, and the rest of their walk was made in silence. This was something they both secretly loved; the silence between when they were doing something simple made the memory somehow more imprinted into their minds as something they would never forget no matter what they did. They were the couple you saw cooking breakfast together while listening to oldies, the type of couple to watch so many movies together and reenact their favorite scenes together, the type of couple who were so natural in their way of living together.
Gerard and Frank found love that can only be found once in a person’s lifetime, and it was something that couldn’t be destroyed by anything. It was strong to survive the passage of time…
Wasn’t it?
Notes
Little but of how Frank and Gerard are together. So I tend to write based on my emotions, as I'm sure most writers do, so.... heads up <3
Anyway, enjoy. Feedback really would be awesome :3
-OAIF <3
@Originality-At-Its-Finest
No need to thank me I mean it! Xoxo
6/14/16