I tried not to cry as I shifted some blankets around on the ground. I decided to sleep next to that tree instead of my usual spot under the bridge; it was quieter here. Smashing a couple bugs, I set my backpack up against the base of the tree and curled up against it. Not the best pillow, but it would have to do.

I shuffled my feet around underneath the blankets then looked up at the sky. Stars twinkled and the moon emitted a comfortable glow, casting me deep into a well needed slumber. That night I dreamt.

I dreamt none of it ever happened: the abuse, taking Mikey away, becoming homeless, losing Frank… It was amazing. I had everything I wanted. A nice house near the forest, a beautiful daughter, and Mikey lived with us. Me, Frank, Mikey, and little Bandit (that was her name, apparently) all together in an astonishing home. The sun would peek out in between the trees in the morning in all the perfect spots, and Bandit would play with her friends from the kindergarten she went to.

But then someone was shaking me awake. My eyes fluttered open, blinking back tears in realization that none of it was actually real. No matter how much I wanted that dream to be real, it wasn't. And someone found me sleeping by a tree.

"Hey, man, wake up. The park manager told me to tell you to get up so he could mow the lawn. He said he doesn't mind you staying, but to just move for a couple hours until he's done," the man explained, shaking me by the shoulder.

"Huh… what? Oh, sorry yeah, I'll be out of here in just a minute," I didn't look him in the eye, embarrassed by how bad I must've looked. And smelled. So I just started to get up when he held his hand on my shoulder to help.

"Oh my gosh…" The man backed away and gasped, "Gerard, what happened?"

I turned toward the man, new tears filling my eyes. I blinked them out so I could see who he was, but I already knew. Why him? Why did he of all people have to find me like this?

It was time, though. Time he knew who I really was, and what really happened to me. No more lies, no more cover-ups. This man deserved the truth. He deserved everything I could ever offer. This man was Frank Iero, my boyfriend, my lover, the one who knew absolutely nothing about me.

"Frankie, love… I need to tell you something. I need to tell you a lot of things, actually," I trailed off as my mouth was attacked by his. His scent filled my nose and I was defeated. I kissed him back with every ounce of love I could find, but then I suddenly felt bad for him.

Even though he was kissing back as much as he could, you have to really love someone to smell them at their worst. Much less kissing them like never before.

He finally freed me and exhaled in a minty breath, "Sure as hell you do. Explain,"

I told him everything. Every last bit of it since the day we first kissed. By the end of my life story, I had him in tears. I was sitting against the tree and his head was in my lap, and I was petting his hair that was so soft and clean.

"You know what we have to do, right?" He gulped, still crying onto my ripped jeans.

"What are you thinking?" I looked down at him, his face red and quivering.

"We'll adopt Mikey. For good. And you're an adult so you can just move in with us," He suggested while wiping a tear from under his left eye, smearing the eyeliner down his cheek.

"I can't do that…" I shook my head and leaned it up against the rough bark.

"Why not? We'll just look after you until you're back on your feet, and then you'll be able to help pay rent and all. Then maybe even be able to go to college and get a house. It's perfect, Gee," Frank sat up and looked at me.

"That sounds amazing, Frankie, but… I'm so far down. I don't know if I can get back on my feet. The alcohol, the cigarettes… I can't stop them. They were all I've had for a solid year," I felt a tear running down my cheek in shame.

"But now you've got me," Frank grabbed my hand with both of his, and squeezed it to let me know that this was actually happening. It felt surreal. After a long pause I had broken the silence.

"Frankie, you love me, don't you?" I asked him. His face filled with a passion I have never seen.

"Gerard, I have always loved you. What kind of question is that?"

"Because I was never loved the way you loved me. Even before dad started beating me, I was never loved, so I never knew. I was just wondering if this is what love felt like," I looked up at the spring sky.

"This feeling, right now, is love. The feeling of acceptance, and caring, and adoration, and amazing passion, all combined into one. That's love, Gerard," he sighed and pulled me up to my feet.

"Can I have a shower…?" I kicked some leaves and looked at him embarrassed.

"Of course. While you're in there, I'll explain to mom and dad what's going on. They'll accept you, I know it! They already know we're gay for each other, so they'll have no problem with it," He said, rolling up my blankets into my backpack.

I stopped picking up my trash and stared at him, "They know?"

Without looking at me, he nodded, "Yup."

"And they're cool with it?"

"Yup,"

"That's amazing!"

He looked me in the eyes at that moment and whispered, "That's love,"