“I’m fine, baby. I...I ended up sorry I told you to go home.”
“I’ll come back!”
“No!” Joshua insisted. “No, don’t do that. I’m fine now. I had a bit of a moment earlier but...but it passed.”
“I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
“Colin, I’m fine. And I wasn’t alone. Trent showed up and gave me a little red ball to squeeze.”
Colin laughed. “Hedid, huh! A little red ball! Well, isn’t he asweetheart.”
“Actually, itwasrather sweet. Then he stayed and talked with me for a bit, and that helped too.”
“Josh, I could be there in fifteen minutes.”
“No, baby, I’m about to crash anyway. Stay home and go to sleep. I needed to hear your voice before I slept. I wanted to tell you how much I love you. And how grateful I am to you.”
“No reason to be grateful,” Colin murmured.
“You’re wrong,” Joshua told him. “I got through that nightmare because of my faith in you, Colin. I knew you’d move heaven and earth to find me and rescue me. I knew you wouldn’t stop. I knew you’dneverstop. And knowing that is what kept me going. It’s what kept me alive. And Iamgrateful.”
“You know what keptmegoing?” Colin asked, his voice choked. “My love for the sweetest, most wonderful man alive. And the knowledge that I could never, ever bear to live without him.”
Joshua’s breath caught in a soft sob. “Thank you, myyedid.”
“Thankyou,a thaisce.”
For a long moment there was silence.
“Our Sap-O-Meter...” Colin began.
“… doth overflow,” Joshua said, finishing their long standing joke.
“Good night, my sweet Jewish boy,” Colin whispered. “Sleep well.”
“Good night, my beautiful Irish lad,” Joshua replied. “You too.”
Chapter 21
Just Slightly Brain Damaged
Joshua awoke the following morning to the uncomfortable and panic-inducing sensation of not being able to see. His eyes were once again glued shut. “Goddammit!” he hissed out, fumbling for the button to summon a nurse.
“Hold on, bud,” a low familiar voice murmured, and his hand was captured in a warm, firm grip. “I got this. Hang on a second.” Joshua heard him walking away from his hospital bed.
“Colin? You’re here? Whattimeis it?”
When he answered, Colin’s voice was distant, and Joshua could hear water running. “It’s four-fifteen.”
“In themorning?”
“Yeah,” Colin said, his voice drawing closer, and after a moment Joshua felt a cloth being laid over his still-tender eyes. “Now relax and let this warm washcloth rest on your eyes for a minute. Then I’ll clean them.”
“Why are you here so early?” Joshua asked. He stretched out his left hand trying to touch his husband and felt the bed sink as Colin perched on it.
“I was worried about you,” Colin said, and Joshua felt the soft pressure of Colin’s lips brushing against his.
“God, sweetie,” Joshua whispered. “I’m sorry.” He lifted his left hand and cupped Colin’s face.
