Hi everyone. I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to actually post this chapter, and its subsequent chapter. I have had them written by hand in a notebook for a VERY long time now, but getting it typed just hasn't happened. As of the start of this school year, I got a new job finally with my degree as a High school English teacher and that has consumed my every being for the better part of this year.

HOWEVER, I make no excuses and I will continue to write this piece as it is sometimes the only peace I have. Writing my own work, that is.

I hope you will continue to read my work and bear with me on this journey. Thank you to all my readers and the overwhelming amount of support that you have all given me as these chapters have continued on. I try to read every single one, and I constantly get emails from you all as you favorite this story or follow me or comment on this piece. I save those emails for a long time, hoping that would be what spurned me forward into getting back to work on this piece.

Your push has given me the drive to keep going and I hope you continue to enjoy. I am definitely not through with this piece yet and won't be any time soon, in spite of my absence. Please enjoy chapter 16 and I will be getting 17 posted shortly as well.

Chapter 16 – Bleak Overcast

I woke up before even the Sun had risen into the sky. I was determined to see him today, no matter what. I wanted to make sure he was alright and to apologize for letting this happen to him. I showered and dressed quickly and made myself a bagel and coffee for breakfast before I even heard my dad stir.

"What are you doing up so early, Kev? You need your rest after the chaos of last night." I shook my head, mouth full of bagel, and looked at dad leaning in the doorway into the kitchen. My response was probably incoherent but it was along the lines of I'm going to see him or something like that. Dad gave me a slow and solemn nod as he walked over and made his own coffee.

By the time I had finished scarfing down my food, Dad had sat down with his coffee and the newspaper that he grabbed off of the porch. I gave him a swift nod as I grabbed my keys and helmet and went to the garage to my beautiful baby.

She sat and glistened in the center of the garage. Dad knows my feelings about this bike, so he parks his pickup truck in the driveway and gives me the garage space to tune her up. I pushed the garage door open, wheeled my beauty into the driveway and closed the door again. I was in dark jeans and a hunter green, high-collared sweater under a black leather jacket to keep me warm during the chilly autumn morning ride. Hopping onto the bike, I revved the engine and took off down the street, repeating the path the ambulance took the night before.

I felt nothing of the autumn wind while I sped on. All I could think of was Edd lying unconscious in my arms. My mind wandered back to the memories of the night before, and my distracted mind nearly made me drive off the road. Shaking my head, I forced the dark thoughts down so I wouldn't end up in the hospital as well.

Pulling into a parking spot at the hospital was rough. The Sun had risen part way into the sky, but it was still early. The light of the Sun was hard to see as the sky was heavily overcast, almost like the world was aware of what happened last night.

Let me make something perfectly clear: I hate hospitals, their smell, what they look like, all sterile and white, and I definitely don't like what they hide. The basement of a hospital is the one place on this planet where I will never go. With these thoughts in mind, I walked in hoping my Edd wouldn't be down there.

The nurse at the front desk was nice enough, especially since I'm not his family and it was before visiting hours. I may have… finessed my way to getting what I wanted. I can be charming when I want to be. She led me to his room and we stopped outside his door and she turned to face me. She was a short, petite, woman but she held herself well, probably from what she experienced on the job.

"When they brought him in last night he was in critical condition. There really isn't much I can tell you without parental consent from his parents, but I can tell you that there is no permanent damage and the surgeon was able to fix any damage done to his skull." I nodded and gave a sigh of relief. She shook her head and put her hand on my shoulder. "Before I let you in, understand that he needs his rest, so please don't wake him. And be careful with him. The poor boy wasn't just assaulted." I stopped and looked at her. There was pain in her eyes as she turned away to open the door for me. With a quiet voice and a slow motion she let me in and said, "I shouldn't even be telling you this, but I can tell you care for him deeply." She paused and struggled to meet my gaze. "He was raped."

She shut the door behind me while I stood there, broken. I turned and looked over to where he slept and I let out a yelp and had to cover my mouth. His face was pale but covered in bruises. The long black hair that used to shine in the light, was gone.

In its place, a scar traveled along the right side from the back of his head to the side a couple inches above his ear. I couldn't help myself; I started to cry.

I moved a chair over to his side and sat down and gazed at his frail body through misty eyes. I turned my phone's Pandora on and turned the volume down low and let it play on the bedside table.

- I'm still learning to love, still learning to crawl.

Say something. I'm giving up on you.

I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you. -

"I'm so sorry, Edd. Please come back to me." I took my red hat off and set it on the floor next to me with my helmet. Laying my head down on the bed next to him, I took his bruised hands in mine.

Not sure when I fell this hard, but all I wanted was to see him smile again. I wish I knew what to do to help him, but I was lucky to even be let into his room without his parents being here. Edd once said that they left him when they learned of his preferences. I doubt they'd even bother showing up now.

Holding his hand, I stayed in the chair lying forward onto the bed. The weak Sun tried to shine through the thick layer of clouds but only a little made it into the room. The dark gloom took me over and I fell asleep holding my unconscious boy friend's hand, quietly and internally praying to anyone who would listen to let him stay with me.