The room was still spinning when he dared to open his eyes again.

This was bad. He was feeling like shit and not just because he had a hangover. He remembered everything and even though he knew he had to set things right, he couldn't even bring himself to stand properly right now. Once this sickness subsided finally he needed to. He simply had to. This was his mistake. A huge big fat mess he's brought himself into and he knew it. And worst of all he had betrayed not just Max's trust doing this. No, what was even worse he had caused another cut in Leo's heart as well, because - judged by his reactions - he didn't know as well. How could he even? Max and himself had agreed to never talk about this ever again; to nobody.

And Carmen…

Oh God, what had he done?

Roger rubbed over his face once but still stared at the ceiling, trying to focus on one point and thinking of something…nothing really. Anything that would keep his mind from making him feel even worse.

He had promised not to tell this. And then again, he had promised Carmen to always tell everything…Why hadn't he done it before? Before his partner had gotten to know them? Before he even started to like Max? This ruined everything, but worst of all…

What was gonna happen to the two of them now? Carmen would forgive a lot. And he had become a lot quieter about things that had insulted him in former times more easily. But he had never just left without a word. And Roger couldn't even blame him for this.

"They're in the kitchen now!"

He turned his head slightly and saw Scott standing in front of him; his arms crossed and his face disgusted.

"I hope you're proud!" he continued, looking enraged. "Leo's not exactly able to process anything right now and you're doing this?"

"I didn't intend to…," Roger answered very silently. He knew he would have to take the blame for this but he wasn't sure what to say to this.

"Why can't you ever listen to me?" Scott went on. "Why do you have to exaggerate everything? I've told you it was enough! I've told you this wasn't a good idea!"

"I know…"

"And you had to do this in front of him?" Scott waved his arms now and his increasingly louder voice cut like a knife into Roger's head, so he closed his eyes. "When the boy was on the edge of freaking out already today? This is low, Rog, and you should be ashamed of yourself."

"Don't you think I am?" Roger screamed back all of a sudden and jumped up.

He remembered that moment though why he didn't sit in the first place as the walls around him started to spin once more and that way too familiar nausea came creeping back to him right away. Quickly he had to grab the armrest of that sofa and lowered his head, bending down.

He could feel Scott being by his side as quickly as his rage had come. And in his hands on his back, he knew he wasn't actually as angry as he would have expected. As he would have deserved.

"Don't you think I know?" Roger repeated silently again, not daring to open his eyes. "Don't you think I know this is the most shameful, disgusting thing I have ever done? I've…betrayed them. All of them in just a heartbeat… And Carmen…"

"He is upstairs," Scott answered calmly, while still rubbing his back. "You will probably be able to talk to him, IF he opens the door…"

Roger turned to look at his roommate as much as his body would let him.

"I've hurt him, haven't I?"

Scott looked at him for a moment without answering, but then he closed his eyes and sighed deeply, letting go of Roger and folded his arms in front of his chest again. He then slowly turned and grabbed a chair which stood nearby, pulling it closer with a loud scratching sound on the marble floor until it almost faced the older man in front of him and sat down.

When he opened his eyes again, his glance pierced Roger almost.

"I'm saying this now, because you know we promised a long time ago to always be honest with one another," he started calmly, but there was something so dangerous in his voice Roger almost backed away if he had been certain not to fall over trying.

So, he simply fell back onto the couch and leaned his head to the headrest as good as possible, never letting Scott out of sight. He always had had a way of making him feel intimidated and he never was if he was honest. Though he was usually the voice of reason within this house, Scott hardly ever was as determined; as serious. Which undoubtedly indicated trouble.

"Roger, I've never said much about whatever you were up to," Scott started then. "But this is beyond reason. None of us has ever said anything about what was going on with you and Max back then but we've always expected you to have changed. And you did when you've brought Carmen here. We seriously thought that. All of this…stuff…it had stopped. Or so we thought. And from how relaxed he was about it, we always assumed you've told him more than you have told us."

"You…," Roger gasped slightly. "You knew?"

Scott nodded once; his hands on his knees and still tense.

"But what you have done just now…," he continued. He stopped shortly and took a deep breath. "You know, I've seen you destroy a lot of good things. I've watched you always taking things for granted and never worrying about whoever might get hurt. But with Carmen… Believe me, you will never, NEVER get anything alike. And you should seriously be more than ashamed of yourself."

"I…"

"If he has enough, you will be alone," Scott interrupted him. "And I mean it. They won't talk to you ever again." He nodded towards the kitchen. "And to be honest here, I couldn't even blame him. He's been through enough with you…"

Thus, he stood up and gave Roger another look as cold as ice. It made the older man hold his breath for a second. But then he turned and left the room as well, leaving him alone with his bad conscience.

"You must believe me. It was nothing. A one time thing!"

Max sounded more desperate than anyone else right now.

He kneeled in front of Leo; his hands in his own all the time; and looking almost as if he was about to cry any moment himself. The roommates stood at the huge kitchen counter and witnessed this without saying a word. Shoulder to shoulder they sometimes exchanged worried looks but the truth was, no one knew how to deal with this. No one knew what to say.

Yes, they had known. But it was never a thing to discuss unless they were by themselves. And the other even more horrible truth was none of them knew how to deal with Leo in this state. No one knew what to say to ease the pain, the hurt, the anger. They knew he could get like this, but in reality they've only heard about it and never had seen it like this. It was this huge dark carpet of helplessness they became aware of just then for the first time really.

The young man sat there on a chair and almost apathetically stared outside the window. He looked so incredibly tired. And just as though he had worked a week straight without a break at all. He hadn't said a word after Carmen had left the room. Only he hadn't been able to stop his tears from coming. But after that…nothing. Even now he didn't react to anything Max said. He didn't even look at him. It seemed almost as though he didn't notice anyone else was there at all and if he did, he definitely didn't know any of them. Just as though he was a stranger forced to stay in this house with people trying to find out what he was doing there.

Shirley had brought him into the kitchen to be out of that madhouse which broke lose over Roger and Max that moment but even then he hadn't made a sound at all. A state which had made her enormously uncomfortable; since she usually had a way to deal with Leo.

Max had followed him only seconds later, insisting on being more sorry than any time before. And - Oh God - he was! They could tell in the way he spoke; in the way he moved and in every little moment that he tried to be there with Leo no matter what. They almost felt more sorry for him seeing this almost tragic dance. After all, he had had an excuse since Leo hadn't been there when all this had happened. Whereas Roger…

But Leo was the real problem right now.

What a messy situation. He came here for help. To cool down from everything that burdened him right now; even though none of them really knew what was going on. It didn't seem Roger or even Max knew much more though. But from what they had noticed the past couple of days, he definitely wasn't feeling well at all. And now getting a message like this… It did something to him. Plain to see for everybody. And if they were honest, they knew stuff like this changed people. IN their thoughts, in their actions and most importantly… in the way they felt.

But what on earth could they try to do now?

"Leo…," Max almost whispered now, his eyes watery. He reached out and softly touched his partners cheek, softly turning his head in his direction. "Leo, please. What else can I do to make this better? Tell me… Anything I will do."

Leo's head lifted a little and for once his tired eyes met Max's. It was then they all could see just how much at the end he really was.

"Leo, please," Max sniffed. "Please, I never wanted to hurt you. Not like this. Not at all…"

It was then the younger man pulled his hands out from underneath Max's gently. He stopped his pleading - probably more surprised than all of them together - and stared at his partner with wide eyes.

The roommates inhaled sharply, seeing the enormous tremor in Leo's hands now for the first time. His bandaged hand shook so strongly in fact, it almost gave the impression of him falling into shock completely right now. But his body wasn't shaking. Not a bit. On the contrary, it was as calm as it could be. Which made them hold their breaths for a moment. Something here didn't make sense.

Leo, on the other hand, took Max's hands for once and looked at him almost compassionately. It was so unusual to see that moment, no one dared to even move, let alone speak. And they swore Max didn't even breath in.

"Max?" Leo spoke very softly. So much in fact, he was hardly audible at all. "How is Carmen?"

"What?" He swallowed hard. "Carmen?…He's…"

Max turned to them longing for help. It was in his eyes and his whole posture.

The tragedy was, none of them could answer this either. None of them had spoken to him.

"He…" Shirley started but Leo cut her off quickly, smiling at her as warmly as he had to Max.

"Can I talk to him?"

"We…er…," she rubbed her neck, obviously not knowing what to say when a hand grabbed her shoulder gently and made her look up again.

Scott had entered the kitchen just then and nodded at her just once before turning to Leo.

"Leo," he started then, stepping closer and kneeling right next to Max. "You shouldn't worry about someone else right now. It is important you get some rest. Not in a few hours but now… Carmen won't be gone when you have recovered a bit."

Leo did not move for a long while but kept on staring at Scott. He breathed out then. For a second he looked to the ground, smiling brightly while still holding Max's hands. But then all eyes were on him again, when he suddenly jumped up and took the porcelain mug next to him in a rage none of them had faced before and threw it with all his might to the kitchen wall next to him.

"LET ME SEE HIM!" he screamed suddenly and as loudly as he was able to. So loud in fact, Max jumped back immediately and lost his balance, thus landed on the kitchen floor; just staring at him with huge eyes.

All the others pressed together in a moment of complete surprise too and no one said anything.

"Leo….not again," they heard Max whisper in disbelief.

"Leo, calm down, will you?" Scott tried and lifted his hands carefully but Leo just whirled around in his direction, looking more than furious. "We get you are upset!"

"YOU DON'T GET A DAMN THING! NONE OF YOU," he yelled in a thundering voice so unlike him, it made them freeze. "YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT WHAT THIS FEELS LIKE! ALL YOU DO ALL THE TIME IS COMMITTING THESE HORRIBLE THINGS…OVER AND OVER AGAIN. ALL OF YOU KNEW! ALL OF YOU WERE SILENT! AND THEN YOU LOOK AT ME LIKE THIS! WITH ALL THIS PITY! AS IF I AM NOTHING BUT A BIG FAT TRAGEDY TO ALL OF YOU!"

"Leo…would you calm down, so we get a chance to say something at least?" Kevin stepped forwards; more courageous than ever before. "Please, no one is gonna blame you. Not you!"

"I HAVE HAD IT!" Leo yelled once more and grabbed the teaspoon on the table, stepping closer to Max who was still on the ground.

They all gasped when he lifted his hand, almost ready to attack him with the utensil in his hands. Max instinctively covered his face with his arm immediately and Shirley gave a squeaking scream no one had heard from her before, while Kevin pressed his face to Brian's chest, only to not having to look at what was undoubtedly gonna happen.

But it was that very moment Leo woke from his delirium and the anger in his eyes vanished as quickly as it had come. Instead, they grew back to the puppy eyed expression they all knew from Leo. Their Leo!

And then he noticed what this almost had become and he teared them wide open again. Shivering still, his hands let go of that spoon and with a loud metallic clank it fell to the ground.

With one shocked breath, Leo took his own hand in the other and pressed them tightly to his chest, not taking his gaze away from Max who only then dared to turn in his direction again.

Max shook his head slightly, but wasn't even able to blink - his mouth slightly open but obviously incapable to even produce the slightest sound.

Leo stepped back; his breath becoming heavier.

And immediately his eyes filled with tears again, which fell uncontrollably down to the kitchen floor.

"LEO?"

All their heads turned immediately when Carmen's voice sounded from the kitchen door.

He stood in the doorframe; still holding on to it; and looked from Leo to Max not less surprised. For a moment he didn't dare to move as well though. His face darkened as he tried to make sense to the picture there in front of him.

He seemed to get what this was about much quicker though. All the others were rather surprised at how fast he had his gaze on Leo again and changed his voice into such a calm version of himself, it was hard to believe.

"Hey… Honey, what's wrong?" he asked almost maternal.

"Not a good time, Carmen," Brian said incidentally, but didn't leave Leo out of his sight. "He is…"

"He is nothing!" Carmen hissed, whirling around and looking angry too. "Don't say this kind of stuff, Brian! This won't help a bit!"

"But …"

He wasn't able to finish though as Leo started to move.

All of them held their breath.

Only a second later though, Leo flung his arms around Carmen and buried his face in his chest as well; leaving him not less surprised for a moment. But when that first moment had sunk in, he tenderly put his arms around him as well and softly started to stroke his back.

Leo was sobbing now, cowering there like nothing in the world would understand him but him.

Which was somehow strange, since - although being friends - Carmen and him weren't even nearly as close as Max and him. On the other hand he had just lost it and tried to… They weren't even certain what he had tried to do there to Max.

Secondly, looking at Carmen he couldn't possibly be in the condition to take care of Leo right now too. He looked horrible indeed and probably had to digest this whole evening on a whole other level first too. But still, he was down here with hem and held Leo in his embrace, not even asking about what was going on.

"Carmen….we…," Kevin started, but their younger friend shook his head quickly, giving him just one warning look.

"Are you good?" he then asked, very clearly addressing Leo.

The whole house seemed to hold its breath that moment.

Leo was sobbing still; for all of them to hear; but gave a small nod.

"Hey, you know what?" Carmen changed his tactics now too; forcing himself into a broad smile while addressing Leo. He took him by the shoulders and softly forced him to look at him. "I honestly thought some moron neighbor had thrown another tantrum just now and actually destroyed some china back there…"

Leo looked at him with huge watery eyes, trying to follow.

"You should see them," Carmen sniggered. All of them could tell this was a show, but Leo obviously seemed to buy it right now. "They sometimes do stupid shit like this and when they do, it's a feast to watch them going berserk on the street."

Despite his desperation, Leo chuckled slightly.

"They are?" he half cried, half asked. None of the others were sure, if he actually meant this or just played along.

"Not kidding," Carmen answered, trying his best to sound cheerful. He even held up his hand in a way that indicated he swore everything he had on this. "We sometimes rate their fights, observing it all along as does the whole neighborhood. Much much fun, believe me!"

Again, Leo jeered slightly, looking at Carmen as though he was the only sane person in reach.

Max, who still sat on the ground shook his head again. But just then, Shirley wanted to step forward and say something. She had her mouth open already when Max lifted his right hand and signaled her to stop. Something he usually wouldn't do like this but Shirley indeed stopped, looking at him - the shock clearly written in her face still. Max meanwhile shook his head at her.

'Don't do it! He's on to something there!' his face seemed to literally scream at her. And weirdly enough, she understood perfectly and stopped where she was. All their heads turned to them again.

"Sweetheart, would you mind if we took a look?" Carmen asked then, acting absolutely unimpressed by their little nonverbal conversation right in front of them although they could tell he had noticed. "We'd have something to laugh about for weeks to come, I guarantee!"

Again, Leo jeered slightly; his tears still running down his cheeks, but with a look of overwhelming gratefulness towards Carmen. Then he nodded again, biting his lips and Carmen flung his arm around him again.

He turned only shortly when they left the kitchen to cast one icy stare at Max on the ground still and they were gone.

Only then, the five people remaining almost collapsed; exhaling heavily.

Max was the only one not turning though.

He still had his eyes on the door, sitting on the ground still and with the most shocked expression ever.

What had happened here just now?

This was the second time he had witnessed this and he would lie to himself and everyone else if he honestly said he didn't feel that icy cold fear creeping up inside of him. The last time this had happened, he also had hardly recognized Leo. Sweet little innocent Leo. The Leo, who started to cry when a voice grew louder just a little from their normal way of speaking. The Leo who clung to a baby blanket and never ever even dared to speak against anything even when he thought it wasn't right.

And he remembered way too realistically still what had happened the last time Leo had become that stranger. That unrecognizable someone he hadn't known before.

It scared him shitless.

"Max?" he heard Scott again and slowly turned his head in his direction, only to find him stretching out his hadn't to help him up again.

Hesitantly, he took it though and pulled himself up to his shivering legs.

"What was this?" he heard Brian ask and turned to face them finally.

If only he could say. If only he had just one tiny clue of what was going on here. The only thing that was certain though was something was wrong. Very wrong. And he couldn't hide it with some kitchen accident story now anymore. He couldn't even tell them that this hadn't been Leo…

So what now?

"What the hell was this?" Brian repeated.

"I…"

"You said he's overworked and tired…," Brian cut him off, stepping closer now. "This wasn't overworked, man!"

Max averted his eyes, trying hard to calm his still shivering body as good as possible and maybe get some more time to think of something to tell them.

"He's…," he started hesitantly. And then finally he took a deep breath and straightened himself up again but still looked straight ahead. "He's been having … some issues lately…"

"Issues?" This time Kevin was the one finding his voice back. "Max?! This was… a fully grown … seizure of some kind… He wasn't even himself anymore…"

"He's just…"

"Be honest here, will you?" Scott demanded now too. "Was this injury on his hand even an accident?"

Max's head whirled up and within a second they could read all the answers they needed in the desperate look he gave them. There was no need to hide it or to pretend it wasn't there. No, Max Bialystock was an open book for once; right there in front of them.

All of them gasped.

Kevin stepped back in shock, while Shirley covered her mouth with her hands.

"I think…," Max cleared his throat now, realizing he had no other chance than to tell them. "I …think something's not okay. Not at all…"

The evening wind blew around the blocks and carried the dusty old smell the city had sometimes in every corner of the long narrow streets. The sky was already turning into a dark violet and only huge gray clouds here and there suggested the day had been there just minutes ago, but was now tied to vanish for several hours to make space for the comforting darkness of nighttime.

The lights of the city started to illuminate their way more and more and every now and then you could see people behind their windows following their cozy evening routines and slowly coming to rest.

It was getting colder though. Slightly colder than the heat of day and usually Leo would love to cool down on their balcony after a day like this.

But this time he couldn't think of anything as soothing as this. His mind was somewhere far away. He didn't notice the slight breeze whirling around his head or the endless amount of cars still passing them; not did he really notice where they were going or how far they had been away from the townhouse already.

When they had left none of them had tried to stop them. Why should they anyway? They had been way too shocked and he couldn't blame them. He himself had been shaken to his foundations when he noticed what he had almost done there. He couldn't even remember having grabbed that spoon nor what he had actually been intending to do with it. But he remembered this huge wave of anger suddenly appearing inside of him. So much stronger and so much more demanding than every before. He couldn't get where it came from, but he knew he hated them that moment. So so much. More than anything else … And he hated himself for these thoughts even more.

He could never hate them. He could never even think this about them and yet he had done it. Without a reason. Without a hint of why…

their footsteps echoed back to them from the walls of the buildings as they walked on the gray concrete and for a second there they walked so synchronic, it almost seemed as though he was alone. But then he remembered he wasn't. And when he cast a short look over his shoulder, he made sure Carmen was still beside him. There, walking silently; not saying a word and just staring ahead as well.

He looked tired. And unusually tense for himself.

Leo didn't even have to guess why. All this had been a lot, probably not just for him. And even though he knew Roger's past and his incapability to resist temptations sometimes -heck, he had been cheating emotionally and physically even while he had known Carmen- he never would have suspected …this! And judged by his reactions, neither had Carmen although he probably knew a lot more than he had told him.

"Are you okay?"

Leo looked up, noticing he'd been lost in his thoughts again. It happened a lot if he was honest but just now it kind of scared him he had to admit. So he flinched slightly when he heard Carmen's voice seemingly out of nowhere.

When their eyes met though, he didn't feel anything but relief. To not being angry again. To be out and away from them. And to be here with someone he trusted and who, quite frankly, was in the same position as him….well, more or less.

So, he nodded.

"I guess so…"

"You've scared them a good deal back there," Carmen almost whispered now. "You sure we shouldn't get you checked?"

"Not you too," Leo stopped and closed his eyes, knowing in an instance that Carmen must have stopped too. He was looking at him now. He could tell.

"Leo?"

Carmen was pretty relaxed though. He didn't rush by his side and started to bombard him with questions as everyone else did all the time. A little difference he noticed instantly.

"Everyone thinks I'm a nutcase anyway," Leo said, looking down to his feet. He just couldn't face him. "Max…," he hesitated saying his name shortly. "He…thinks it has something to do with the injury… you know…"

Carmen nodded.

"Oh, please don't. Don't look at me like that," Leo sniffed, feeling his eyes filling with tears again. "They all think I'm crazy and …and…they're right… But please, not you too…"

Leo sank down; squatting to the ground and holding his head now. He couldn't bear this too.

"Hey, hey…," Carmen stepped closer, putting his hands on his shoulders softly. "I'm not. Look at me! I'm not! But Leo…"

He looked up again, fully aware he was crying way too much lately.

"Whatever you've tried in there," Carmen went on, trying his best to smile. "It could've ended differently. You know that right?"

Again, Leo nodded.

"I felt so angry…," he whispered then. "I didn't know what I was doing."

"Angry because of ….?" Carmen couldn't even end his question. Leo noticed. It must be over the top difficult for him to talk about this even now.

The young man watched him closely and suddenly felt everything he was probably feeling as well. He knew. Whatever he was going through there, he understood.

But he shook his head nearly not visible.

"I can't tell…"

"Wouldn't be surprising to be honest," Carmen answered then and looked away, but didn't seem to let go or abandon Leo there on the ground. "I figure it must be shocking…"

"It was for you as well," Leo replied.

Again, Carmen nodded.

"I knew about these things," he answered. "And as much as I try to deny it, I always knew it was gonna happen again… But…" His voice broke that moment.

"He said he didn't know me back then," Leo went on, observing his friend still. "So, logically I have no reason to feel hurt. We all had a life before that."

"It still feels like betrayal," Carmen answered.

"Were you… already…?"

"I don't know," Carmen closed his eyes. "I didn't know about this one. And the way Max reacted … I guess …"

Leo sighed.

Whatever this was, they wouldn't be able to find a solution on the sidewalk…literally. So, he slowly stemmed his shivering hands on his knees and pulled his body up from the cold gray underneath him.

"Leo?"

He looked at him and even though he couldn't possibly tell, he knew perfectly well which questions were about to follow.

"The shivering's gotten stronger," Carmen pointed at his hands.

"It happens… sometimes," he answered, trying to hide his hands in his pockets. "Nothing to worry about."

"Then why do you?"

Leo's eyes grew wider and he whirled around to his friend again.

Carmen was unimpressed though. He stood there as calmly as before, breathing in slowly. Never before had he seen him like that, without the temptation to make him smile in any way. Without being loud or jokingly comment on something. Just standing there, staring at him. It was then Leo knew he knew. He knew all too well he was lying.

"I'm…," Leo shook his head. He didn't know what to say. Nothing came to his mind other than… "It has happened before…"

But he couldn't finish.

He hardly believed his eyes that moment and immediately felt his whole body stiffen. That moment… It felt like the whole world was crashing down on him. Like everything he had ever hoped and feared met halfway on the way to him. And for a second he even forgot to breathe.

The silhouette of a person stood there; not mere ten feet away from them, observing at them with staring eyes. They didn't move. But Leo wanted to. So badly. He just didn't know whether to run there or flee. And as much as he wanted to go into any direction, his feet were like stone right now.

Carmen turned his head too, following his gaze.

The woman still didn't move, but her shoulder-long brownish gray hair was waving around her head in the breeze sweeping through the street just then.

"Do you know her?" Carmen asked after a moment, noticing Leo wasn't able to look somewhere else.

But Leo, as much as he tried to answer, was only able to open and close his mouth a few times, shaking his head in disbelief.

And then the woman tilted her head once and turned around, obviously meaning to leave.

"No," Leo gasped and straightened.

It almost seemed she'd heard him though, for she started to run suddenly. And she was fast. It took her not only a second to almost vanish out of their sight, leaving Carmen and Leo wondering about this weird encounter probably if Leo hadn't chosen exactly that moment to jump after her as if the devil himself was right behind him.

"No! Wait!"

"What? Leo!"

Carmen was on his feet in no time too, chasing after his friend.

Leo ran but no matter how quick he was; no matter how much he tried to fly over the sidewalk there, he couldn't reach her. She was incredibly agile it seemed and the distance between them was getting more and more. Leo felt his lungs were about to explode any second. He didn't notice anything or anyone passing him. He didn't even hear Carmen behind him. All he could concentrate on was to get to her. Right now. He simply had to. Only a few feet…

But then she turned and ran onto one of the many side streets, causing Leo to almost stumble with her unexpected manoeuvre. He managed to grab the edge of a building though and thus forced his body to take that unexpected turn as well. What he hadn't considered though were a huge pile of old magazines lying there stacked for the next waste collection. He lost his balance, not being able to dodge them too and fell head-first into the old papers.

It hurt. He was certain he probably had done something to himself, but the longing to go on was much stronger within him and he stemmed his hands up again, lifting his head and jumping to his -now shivering- feet again. But before he could even get his orientations back - or even wonder where he was now - he noticed there was no sign of her anywhere anymore. He turned around once; then twice. But nothing. No matter in which direction he looked, she just wasn't anywhere to be seen.

And his breath became faster and even more agitated. He felt his body become cold. And he noticed immediately how much this upset him. How much he had feared this moment… For how long this had been his worst nightmare.

When Carmen turned the corner as well, he was almost hyperventilating, turning faster and faster and mumbling "No! No! No!" over and over again.

"Leo?" he heard him. "Leo, stop it! Please!"

He let Carmen grab him though and only once tried to release himself from that grip. But he was feeling too powerless all of a sudden to even do anything against this.

"Leo! Leo, look at me!" he heard him say and only then slowly turned his head. His eyes were torn wide open in shock and from Carmen's horrified face, he could tell he was crying terribly. He couldn't bring himself to produce any sound though.

"Oh my god!" Carmen said then and flung his arms around him. "Please! Leo, please, talk to me. What has gotten into you?"

"Tell me…," he managed to whisper. Carmen quickly let go of him and with his hands still holding his face, he looked at the desperate man in front of him; probably expecting something unspeakable. "Tell me…you saw her too! Please!"

Leo held his breath. This couldn't happen again. Not again.

Carmen didn't move for what seemed like an eternity, but then he nodded once while breathing just as heavily as Leo.

"I did," he said. "Who was that?"

It was then Leo didn't believe to be awake at all. He almost broke down right in front of his friend, who was only able to catch him when he was tilting forward. Instinctively, Leo grabbed Carmen'S jacket and pressed himself as close to him as possible. He needed to feel something that was real right now. Something that was there. Someone who wouldn't think he was being insane, for he himself doubted it right now more than ever before.

And he was crying. In loud, long screams his emotions just broke free and it was hard for him to even breathe in-between the sobs. Still, he felt Carmen's hands on his back and no matter how much he moved, he held him. He wouldn't let go…

He didn't know how long they had sat there. Now when exactly he had settled down again or what it was Carmen had consistently mumbled into his ear the whole time through while the both of them were rocking back and forth.

He only remembered the one word, he mumbled over and over again…

"Mom!"

~ To Be Continued ~