It was 6 months later. The snow had melted and the flowers were all starting to bloom. In a grave yard stood a blonde man in a red coat. The once white shoes he wore, were covered in mud from the soft earth. His shoulders were low and his eyes were focused on a dark slab of marble that stuck up out of the ground like so many others around it. Sadness and exhaustion echoed in those violet eyes.
Matthew held the flowers in his hands. White tulips, forget-me-nots and lilacs. Tears shined on his face. Kneeling down he placed them on the grave. "I'm sorry... I can't stay here anymore... Just being around this town brings up too much..."
His fingers reached out to touch the cold marble, tracing the words engraved. His heart ached as he read the inscription he had written for the head stone.
'Dutiful son, Loving husband, Good man'
"I miss you Al..." A tear fell to the ground as Matt closed his eyes. The memories flooded back. the light leave those beautiful sky blue eyes. the violent splash of red that covered the living room. the sound of the gun clattering on the floor. the awful screaming the he hadn't even realized at the time, had come from him. the pain in his chest as his heart stopped, the tightness of Gils arms around him as he held him back.
Al had been his first love. He wasn't prefect. He had become another person in the last year of his life. Matt chose to remember him how he was before that. The sweet boy who had kissed him in the coffee shop, who walked him home, who trusted him so fully that first time in the dorms, who charmed his parents and who had loved him the best way he knew. He thought of the soft touches and loving words. Matt mourned for that man. He took a shaky breath.
Just then a gentle hand laid on his shoulder. Knowing who it was Matts hand reached up to grab it and hold tight. "Birdie? The moving truck is waiting for us..." Matt nodded. He and Gil needed to start driving now if they were going to make it to the new house by Sunday.
"Just one more minuet" his voice was tight.
After the incident Matt and Gil both wound up with houses that they couldn't stand to be in. Too many awful memories haunted those houses... They had rented an apartment together for a while while they sold off the houses. Matt would have rented alone, but Gil knew he couldn't be alone.
The tragedy should have driven them apart. Matt had broken down. He sobbed and refused to eat for days. He cried for Al and screamed, throwing things in anger when Al wasn't there. Matt fully expected Gil to give up and leave. But he was there through it all, he held him, stroked his hair, kissed away tears.
Never a bad word left Gils lips. Even when Matt would sob into his chest for Al apologizing to a man who couldn't hear him, saying he loved him. Gil would just hold him closer and whispered "He knows you love him, he loved you too birdie". If Matt got mad and lashed out, Gil was there. He would talk Matt down and just stay with him until the blonde stopped crying.
It took four months after Als death for Matt to finally realize he was in love with the stubborn, sweet, unmovable albino. His voice had shook "Gil? " the red eyes were surrounded by dark circles. Another night of nightmares from Matt had kept him up. "I'm sorry, for all the trouble I've been causing. I know, It must seem like I don't care sometimes.. But.. I wanted to tell you..." his cheeks burned and his heart ached. "I love you."
Gil had smiled and wrapped his arms around Matt "Of course you do, I'm awesome" Earning a laugh from the blonde he squeezed tighter and whispered in his ear "I love you too birdie"
It was shortly after that they decided it was best to buy a house in another part of the country. They decided to go south. The new house was a two day drive from the place where Al was now buried. Matt hated leaving him here.. but for his own sanity and for Gils sake, he had to let go. They had both secured jobs in the new town they were settling in. It was a fresh start.
Wiping tears away Matt stood and turned away from the grave of a man he use to love, towards the man he loved now. He gave a shaky smile "I'm ready".
Gil smiled and kissed Matt gently, then wrapping his arm around Matts shoulder he lead him back to the truck, and off to start their lives together.
Tissues anyone? I cried the whole time writing this... not a bit ashamed. I hope you enjoyed my story. If you have any feedback on how to improve my writing please feel free to leave a review or PM me!