Time passed slowly for Gavin, but it did, it had to. Everyday was the same, he'd head up to the hospital with a strong but dwindling hope that he'd wake up. He sat in the same chair and did his homework, Michael was the best study companion Gavin ever had.
Recently he'd been trying various techniques, found through internet research, to help wake Michael up. The first one had been talking, reliving memories, this one didn't last long at all. Gavin liked to talk but that was only when there was someone to respond.
The second one was singing. He knew from the start that this was a bad idea but this didn't stop him from belting out a shaky, high-pitched Bohemian rhapsody at the top of his lungs. This method, with four complaints and a warning, had an even shorter lifespan than the talking.
The method he was currently trying was reading aloud and, for some reason, he enjoyed this immensely. It could have been that it was a distraction, something to look at other than the sickly boy before him. It also made him feel closer to Michael, when he was reading he could pretend that Michael was quietly listening, instead of being entirely oblivious to anything going on around him.
The only downside that Gavin had found ws that sometimes he would find a word that he didn't understand and he'd look up form the book asking "Hey, Michael d'you know what this word means?" and, realising his mistake, he'd slowly look down feeling somewhat dejected.
"Gavin?" The doctor, Mr Jenkins said as he entered the room
"Oh" Gavin said, sitting straighter in his chair "Hello"
"Sorry to bother you" he said gently "I just wanted to know how you're feeling"
"I'm fine, thanks"
"Mm, yes "He mused " It's just that we, Lindsay, ray, Josh and I don't want anything to happen to you... as a result of..um over caring"
"What do you mean?" Gavin queried
"Well" he sighed easing himself into the chair closest to Gavin "everyone who cares about Michael also car about you, and to be frank, they're worried. I have definitely noticed a change in you over the past few weeks, you appear to be chowing symptoms of over-exertion and stress based exhaustion. Are you sleeping well?"
Gavin shook his head "not really, not since...you know"He glanced over to where Michael lay and back to the older man.
"I think he would want you to rest, what would you want Michael to do if he was you and you were him?"
"I..I'd want him to be safe, to take care of himself"
"That's what I think too, Gavin just take care of yourself, Michael won't thank you if you're sick when he wakes up"
Gavin nodded "okay"
Mr Jenkins headed back towards the door "Don't stay too late and don't come too early, he'll be here when you want to see him"
He left and Gavin sat back into his chair and went back to the novel.
This continued for months only this time Gavin was sure to take care of himself too. He went home earlier and went to sleep at a reasonable hour every night. It was tough at first but Gavin wanted to be healthy so he would be ready to help Michael recover when he woke up.
Some days Gavin didn't go to the hospital at all, but this was very rare. It was usually after Lindsay, Ray and Josh had convinced him that it was important to take a break and he appreciated it. There was, of course, a downside, this was that there was always the thought of Michael nagging at the back of his mind, no matter who he was with or where he was.
One particular night they had gone out into a small copse of trees in a nearby park. They were sat closely together around a small outdoor lamp that Josh had thought to bring along. It was late at night and the conversation was centred on the recent event's of Josh's life.
"So everything's fine at home now?" Ray asked
"Uh-huh, dad's finally left , he took all his shit last week and since then everything's been totally fine. And to be honest I don't care that he's gone, he was an asshole anyway"
"I can't believe he was cheating on your mom and it was with a dude" Gavin said "Doesn't make any sense!, he was the most bigoted dickhead and all that stuff he said to you and Michael"
"I know man, it was all a damn cover up and he tried to get me to forgive him after all the shit he said. He fucked up my brain, he made me feel like shit all the time and wanted me to forgive him after a little sorry?. Fuck him and his boyfriend"
There was quiet between them for a few minutes until Lindsay said "When d'you think he'll wake up?" Suddenly the conversation had swayed to Michael.
"I dunno" Josh replied, obviously not wanting to dwell on the thought"I hope it will be soon though"
"I want it to be before school ends for summer, it's nearly here and I don't want him to miss any of it" Ray said
"Tomorrow would be nice" Gavin said dreamily
"I miss his laugh" whispered ray, staring into the distance
"I miss his crazy curly hair" said Lindsay
"I miss his temper" laughed Josh
"I miss his dimples" Gavin added turning away from the group, he could see it all. It was as if Michael were there. He heard his laugh ring happily through his ears. He saw his reddish curls bouncing as he ran. He felt the distant pain as Michael playfully lashed out at him. He could see his soft curved lips turned upwards in a joyous smile and the small indents that made Gavin want to kiss him. His stomach felt warm at the thought.
"Michael" he said his name so softly, so carefully, that the light breeze took it away into the night, into the darkness. Gavin's calling of Michael's name went unheard by any of those surrounding him. Gavin wrapped his arms tightly around himself, feeling a twinge of loneliness edge its way into his heart.
