What The...?

BOOK 3

Fuck Not Again!

Chapter 28

"Justin, I love you," Brian whispered as the tears ran down his cheeks, and he rubbed his fingers over the Claddaugh ring that he wore on his left hand, and then once again over the fine shiny marble.

It had been one year since they had come home from Europe, and it had also been one year since Justin's cancer treatments had failed. Justin had been healthy for about two months, and then his health had slowly begun to fade. The treatments had been unsuccessful, and as his last request Brian had brought him home. Those first days home had been rough, but they lived life to the fullest.

They made the most of the time they had together, and did as much as possible, and once Justin's pain was intolerable to keep him from going out Brian made sure that he was able to be comfortable enough to enjoy time with Alex at home. The last six months had been the most difficult on Alex, but she had followed through on her last promise to her Papa, and that was to help take care of her Daddy once Papa went to heaven.

Justin passed away two weeks before their eighth wedding anniversary held tightly in Brian's embrace with Alex asleep next to him. The funeral had been a week after that since his request had been to be cremated, and it was crowded with the many people that his life had touched.

Since then Brian had been slowly pulling himself together. He walked downstairs to pick up the office from the earlier games he had been playing with Alex, and when he was putting the games on the shelf, he slipped the sketchpad that Justin had taken to Belgium off the shelf, and out fell the letter. He picked it up, went back upstairs and once he was settled he slipped it from the envelope and tears began to pool in his eyes as he read:

Dear Brian,

I know that right now things seem like they are tough, and I want you to know before I begin telling you that I love you. We knew going into the six month trip to Europe that most likely it would not be successful, but I was willing to try to do that in order to have a few more precious days with you and Alex. Please let her know how much I loved her, and help her and hold her close when you are missing me.

I know that it is going to be even harder now that I'm gone, but please get on with life, and don't mourn for me forever. You were the second half of my soul for 12 years, and I want you to remember that always.

You are my forever love Brian Kinney.

Till we meet again,

Sunshine

Brian wiped the tears from his eyes, and quietly whispered to the wind, "'till we meet again Justin, 'till we meet again."

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