A Day Without Sunshine is Like Night
“Hey kiddo,” Debbie announced as she rolled back the heavy loft door to check on Brian.
“Hey Maw,” Brian said softly from the floor in the alcove where he was sitting on the rug.
“Whatcha doing?” Deb asked as she took off her coat, threw it on the back of a chair then made her way toward Brian.
Brian held up a joint in one hand and a glass of Beam in the other.
“Ah, I’m just in time for dinner, I see,” Debbie snarked as she sat on a nearby chair. “My days of getting high with you on the floor are over,” she said as she accepted the joint he passed her. “However, I can sit on a chair like a lady.” Brian snorted.
Debbie took a good long toke, filling her lungs with the acrid smoke. She coughed then passed the joint back to its owner. Brian giggled as he took another drag.
“So you want to explain to me why we’re sitting in the dark, drinking and smoking?”
“We’re in the dark?” Brian asked as he looked around. “It wasn’t dark when I sat down.”
“It is now, honey.” Debbie took the glass out of his hand to take a tiny sip. “Blech, how can you drink that stuff? Give me a nice red wine anyday.”
“You have your form of pain management and I have mine.”
“Regressing into your past, are we?”
“Just a little, I promise. Besides, do you see a trick anywhere?” Brian asked as he turned to look at Debbie.
“No, but then I didn’t think I would. You made a pledge and you’re keeping it.” Brian sighed. “He’ll be home soon.”
Brian arched a brow. Debbie rolled her eyes.
“He called Emmett and...”
“And the town crier called you and anyone else that he could think of.”
“Well...”
“It’s okay, Maw, I’m used to it,” Brian murmured. He took another drag before the joint turned to all ash then downed the rest of his drink. He stood up to walk toward the windows. Brian stood gazing out over his dark little corner of Pittsburgh. “A day without Sunshine is like night.”
“What was that honey?” Debbie asked as she joined him.
“Nothing, Maw,” he replied as he kissed her cheek.
“Want me to fix you something?”
“Like what?”
“Like something you can eat off a plate,” Debbie said giving Brian a poignant look.
“No thanks, Deb. I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will, kiddo,” Deb said as she kissed his cheek. She retrieved her coat then let herself out.
Brian eventually went to bed, alone.
*****
Brian woke up to the sound of the shower going and the sun streaming through the loft windows. He smiled, stretched, gave himself a little tug before getting out of bed to join the man in the bathroom. Justin graced Brian with a radiant smile as Brian entered the shower.
“Hey, Sunshine.”
“Hey,” Justin replied, reaching up on his toes to give his lover a kiss. “It’s a beautiful day,” Justin remarked as the warm water sluiced down over their bodies.
“Yes, it is,” Brian murmured, taking the sponge out of Justin’s hand then running it over Justin’s skin. “A very beautiful day.”
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