“Aaron? Aaron!” I crack my eyes open to a painful sun—letting them adjust before taking a look around. My parents, Felix and Kayla, are all with me.
“What? Why are you—”
Benjamin. Our moment of freefall. I was there forso long. Did I die? Is this Heaven? Or did I come back to life? Where the fuck is Benjamin?
“You were in a coma, Little Bird.”
“Where’s Benjamin?” Felix sighs.
“You two are ridiculous. He’s probably at my apartment. He just got done with therapy.”Therapy?Felix’s apartment? What the fuck is going on?
“I… what?” My mom holds my hand—smiling at me with teary eyes, my dad the same behind her.
“You’ve been in a coma for five months, Bub.”
“Five months? What the fuck? And he’s okay? Why is he at your apartment?” Felix rolls his eyes.
“Yes Aaron—other than thecoma,you’re in perfect health—fuck. But yes, he had minor injuries and was only here for a few days. Although they did have to physically restrain him for some of it.” My eyebrows shoot up. “He was losing his mind. He wouldwake up and sprint in here screaming at you to wake up, grabbing you and crying. The staff didn’t know how to handle him.”
I look down at the IV in my hand. I freaked Benjamin out pretty badly, it seems. But he’s alive and I’m alive and the infinite moment is over. How—I don’t know. I was certain we were going to die.
“Can we call him? Have him come?” I ask but Mom shakes her head.
“Let’s get you examined and discharged—then we’ll go see him. He comes every day so he might get here before we leave anyway.” My heart soars at her words.
“Every day?” Mom laughs a happy, watery laugh.
“Yeah. Bear has come every day for five months. He’ll talk to you—play your favorite shows or music. He even shaves your face for you, which I find very adorable.” Felix nods at her words, rubbing his chin.
“Yeah—he eats lunch with you most days. On therapy days he does dinner. He hasn’t stepped foot in your apartment sincethatday so it’s been kind of annoying hearinglet’s go see Aaron—do you think Aaron will be awake? Guess what I told Aaron today.But it’s been really nice seeing him improve like this. He… he promised you.”
“Promised me?” I ask—tears slowly spilling onto my cheeks as I listen to the events of the past five months.
“The day he woke up and found out you were in a coma, he came in here and lost it. He promised to eat, to talk, to leave the house. He said he gets it now—that he wouldn’t die. I think he actually—Mom, close your ears—” My parents plug their ears and Felix leans in and continues in a low, awkward voice. “I think he actually said something along the lines of finally letting you fuck him in the kitchen?” I burst out laughing, dropping my face into my hands.
“Oh my God.” My little Benjamin. I will hold him to every promise he made.
“Yeah—so he’s been working really hard to be able to fulfill those promises by the time you woke up. He’s gone to therapytwice a week every week since he was discharged and he’s slowly started eating more—leaving the house. He’s doing well. For you.” The soft cries feel so hot against my face—so loud in the quiet room.
I feel as though we were given another chance. That we have circled back around, ending up together once again like two little planets in orbit—always drawn together.
“Little Bird—why don’t you take a shower while we get the paperwork together? I can imagine you’d want one.”
“Yes. A shower would be great.” I feel disgusting. No amount of shaving or sponge baths were going to make me feel less grimy after five fucking months.
???
Three hours later I’m in Felix’s car heading to his apartment. Luckily Benjamin had brought me a set of clothes for when I woke up a couple weeks ago. Black shirt and jeans—of course. Apparently, he was very confident I would need them soon. He was right.
I can feel my heart pounding like we’re going on our first date—like I am a high school boy about to ask out his crush. If he hadn’t been visiting me every day—trying so hard to get better—I think I’d be having a panic attack wondering if he still loves me or not. Of course he does—we’re destined to be together. Of course he does. No amount of time in that infinite fall would have changed that.
When we enter Felix’s apartment I can hear movement in Benjamin’s old bedroom. Kayla had turned it into a guest room when he moved in with me so long ago.
“Bear! I’m home.” Felix calls out to him, grinning from ear to ear.
“Hey!”His voice. God, I miss him so fucking much. I might have been asleep, but I feel like I haven’t seen him in years. “I’m packing a little bag. I’m going to stay with Aaron tonight. Want to comehave dinner?” Fe nods his head toward the bedroom—telling me to go to him.Breathe, Aaron—breathe.
Benjamin has his back to the door, shoving random clothes and toiletries into a backpack. Feeling a presence behind him he keeps talking.
