I want to explore the healing power of love in all its forms:
-the enduring and total love we know these two men have for each other
-the love and respect of brothers
-the love and faith in God/Allah or any other higher entity
-and who knows, maybe even eventually the unconditional parental love so sorely missing from this story so far.

Credit to ChryedCrazy for the Urdu saying and translation.

As Christian released Tamwar from the hug he felt an involuntarily shiver. There was no noise but he was aware of a presence. He remembered back to the days when he would know just by instinct that Syed was close by. He turned round and sure enough...

Christian shuddered. Syed had shuffled into the room, round shouldered and hunched. Only now could he see how painfully thin and unhealthy he really was. Despite Tamwar's efforts he still had a full beard growth which hid those glorious lips. His hair, matted in a sea of knots, was filthy and Christian could tell even from 3 feet away that it was lice ridden and infested. The single blanket from the bed was wrapped round him. They stared at each other in silence for what seemed like forever. Those big dark eyes, which had always glistened playfully for Christian, were dull and lifeless but just for an instant Christian saw a flash of something as if a light had gone on in Syed's head and had momentarily woken the memory.

Syed was first to speak. "Why are you here?" he whispered, deliberately avoiding the green eyes he knew so well.

"Hello Sy"

Syed shook his head. "Don't call me that. My name is Syed." Sy was Christian's pet name for him, the only person allowed to use it. Now even that was being denied him. "Why are you here?"

"I asked him to come, Syed. I got the number from your phone." Tamwar interrupted. "You need help and you won't listen to me. I needed someone who understood you and could get through to you. He's the only one who can."

"Tambo, I appreciate what you've done for me and I am grateful for having somewhere to stay for a few days, really I am, but I'm fine. I don't need anyone's help. I don't deserve it. Can you not understand? I just want you to go away, get on with your own life and let me be."

"You're my brother, Syed. I love you. I cannot and will not stand by and see you like this. That's just it – how can I get on with my own life when the person who means most to me in the world is sick? "

"Mum and dad need you."

Tamwar moved to stand directly in front of his brother. "No they don't. Just now what they need is each other – exclusively. Me being there is an annoyance. They need to get to know each other again. Jane is managing the business and it's doing well, Syed. You are the only person who matters to me at the moment and the thought of you like this makes my heart break."

All this time Christian stood transfixed, eyes fixed on his former lover, so many thoughts running through his mind. He fought to resist the urge to walk over, scoop him up and take him away from all this. He fought back the tears when he saw how utterly dejected and helpless Syed looked. He thought of his role in bringing Syed to this and cursed himself. After what seemed like an eternity, he found his voice.

"Syed, Tamwar is right. You are ill, you need people to take care of you. He can't can't do this by himself. I want to help – so much of this is down to me and I'm ashamed of myself for my part in it. Let me help. No strings, no recriminations, no guarantees, just a friend helping another friend who's down on his luck. "

Syed didn't look up, just shook his head and said quietly "You have nothing to be ashamed of. The fault is mine -all of it. Can't either of you get the message, I don't want your help. I don't deserve it. You are better off without me. Why won't you just leave me alone. Mum was right, it'd be better off for everyone if I was dead."

Christian swore in exasperation. He approached Syed with anger in his eyes, pointed his index finger in his face and hissed "Don't you dare say that. Don't you ever dare say that again. And don't presume to know what would be better for me. I don't regret what we had – not for a single moment do I regret it. I know I regret how it ended and that will live with me always but never think that I regret having known and loved you."

He took a step back, afraid that he would do something he shouldn't. Regaining his composure, he continued. " Syed, if you want to be on your own then so be it but not like this. I am not leaving here till I know you are well so you better just accept it. Let us help you get back on your feet and then, if you still feel the same, we'll leave you be. But please, please don't push us away just now. "

Syed at last looked up. He saw the anxiety and love in his brother's eyes and held his hand out to him. Then, momentarily, he turned his gaze to the other man. Throughout it all, despite everything, no matter how he tried to suppress it, his love for Christian had never wavered and never would. But what had Christian said? Just a friend helping another friend. It was way too late, too much had happened and Christian would never be able to trust him again. That was down to him – no-one else. It was his fault.

He saw the determined look on Christian's face, he'd seen it so often before. He knew that when Christian got that look, there was no point in arguing with him. Realising he was fighting a losing battle and anyway, too weak and tired to care, he let out a deep resigned sigh, turned away, pulled the blanket up over his head and shuffled over to the corner of the room where he slithered down onto the floor and curled up, his face hidden from those eyes that even now could reach the innermost recesses of his soul.

Christian beckoned to Tamwar and they quietly moved out into the narrow dark hall. Putting his hand in his jacket pocket, he pulled out his wallet and handed his ATM card to the young man.

"The number is 0332. Get some food, decent stuff though -we need to get him back on a decent diet. You need to get some toiletries too. Shampoo, soap, deodorant, you know, all that sort of stuff."

"I can't expect you to pay for all that Christian, it's not fair." Tamwar said sincerely, even though he knew it was the only option. The morning after finding Syed, he had called the letting agency to take another month's rental on the bedsit and he'd used the last of his savings.

"Tamwar, no arguments please, just let me do this. If we're going to help him we need to stock up." Tamwar didn't need to be told twice. He nodded and mouthed 'thankyou' as he slipped the card into his jacket pocket.

He headed to the front door and opened it. At that moment, he stopped in his tracks, turned to look at his brother and walked towards him. He bent down in front of him, lifted Syed's head so he could see directly into his eyes and placed his hands on his brother's shoulders. Quietly but with a steady voice he said in Urdu "Yaad Rakhna hai woh Allah tamaam dekhna oor tamaam kareem hai. Allah aap koh mehfooz rakhna hai. Allah aap koh rooz sambhalna. Aap ooz key hidaayat oor taqat kareeb parkhana. Inshallah Syed " ("Remember Syed, Allah is the All Merciful and All Seeing. May Allah always keep you safe with him. May he protect you and guide you through. God willing may this happen Syed.").

The brothers hugged. Tamwar got up, nodded at Christian and left. For the first time in over 6 months, the 2 men were alone together.