Only You Page 4
Linder stood outside Mark’s house and stared at the door. He had waited for a while after school before heading to Marks because he still wasn’t sure what to say about their argument at lunch. After talking with David about it, Linder fluctuated between wanting to run to Mark and beg forgiveness and wanting to make Mark be the one to beg for forgiveness. Linder took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
When no one answered the door, Linder tried the door bell again. After waiting five minutes for someone to answer the door, Linder debated his options. He could just leave and wait to see if Mark came looking for him. Or, he could go on in and see if Mark was around. Or, he could head over to the restaurant to see if Mark was there even though Mark had told Wasso that he was off tonight.
Linder immediately discarded the idea of heading to the restaurant: if Mark was there, Linder didn’t want to know he’d been pushed to the side again; if Mark wasn’t there, Linder would feel stupid admitting he had no idea where Mark was. Plus, Linder wasn’t sure if anyone at the restaurant knew about him and Mark.
That left Linder with the option of either heading home or going in. After a few more minutes of internal debate, Linder admitted to himself that he would just end up worrying about where Mark was and if Mark was going to try to find him if he went home. So, the choice was go on into Mark’s house and see if Mark was actually there.
Linder tried the door knob and found it turned easily in his hand. Opening the door, Linder peeked in and called out a hello. When no one answered him, Linder walked in shutting the door behind him. Linder took off his shoes and walked the familiar path the Mark’s room. The door to Mark’s bedroom was open a small amount and Linder could see that the room was dark with the shades drawn shut. Linder opened the door further and saw the Mark was in bed fast asleep. Linder watched Mark sleep as another internal debate went on in his mind. Should he wake Mark up? This was probably the first time in a month that Mark was sleeping soundly. Maybe Linder should just leave Mark a note and go home.
Not realizing it, Linder had walked over to Mark’s bed and was staring down at Mark. Linder noticed that Mark’s eyelashes didn’t conceal the dark circles under Mark’s eyes. Linder couldn’t bring himself to wake Mark but he also couldn’t make himself walk out of Mark’s room. Linder gave himself a stern talking to when he realized that he wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed beside Mark but was too afraid to. Linder knew Mark wasn’t angry at him, not enough to be upset if Mark woke up with Linder beside him.
After another moment of watching Mark sleep peacefully, Linder undressed and carefully slid into bed beside Mark. Linder curled up beside Mark but didn’t fully relax until Mark shifted in his sleep and threw an arm around Linder. Snug up against Mark and feeling at peace for the first time in a long time, Linder closed his eyes and joined Mark in sleep.
***
Mark was dreaming. In his dream, he sat in court facing a bench filled with friends, family and other people in his life. He was being read charges.
First his teachers stood up and charged him with ‘scholastic neglect’. Then his doctor stood up and charged him with ‘self-neglect causing bodily harm’.
His parents stood up and charged him with ‘family neglect’ and ‘breaking word with siblings’. Seeing Mark’s look of confusion, his parents stated proof of the charges: he had forgotten his promise to teach his younger brother how to make chocolate chip cookies; he had forgotten his promise to take his siblings to the zoo so that his parents could have a day to themselves; and, he hadn’t done any of his chores in over two weeks, including not making dinner on his nights.
Wasso and Mark stood up and charged him with ‘neglect of friends’. Then Linder stood up. Mark was horrified that Linder was going to charge him with something. Mark wanted nothing more to stand up, run to Linder and beg forgiveness. As soon as Mark had those thoughts, he felt a tightening on his wrists. He looked down to see that straps had grown from the arms of the chair, holding him down. He was being forced to sit and listen to the charges.
Linder cleared his throat and looked down along the bench to all of Mark’s other accusers. Linder looked at Mark and spoke.
“Mark, you have been accused of crimes of neglect by those who care for you the most. The other accusers have decided to relieve you of their charges because of the unusual circumstances you are facing while studying under Chef Robertson. After much time spent in meditation and dilemma, I have decided to continue with my charges.”
Mark’s gut clenched with fear. The one person who meant more to Mark than everyone else combined was the one person who wouldn’t forgive him. Mark was terrified at the accusations Linder would make and the consequences of his actions.
Linder continued, “Mark, you are charged with neglect of your soul and neglect of the heart of another given to you for keeping. You are charged with negligence causing emotional turmoil in your lover and dearest friend. You are charged with breaking your word when you stated that nothing was more important than me. You are charged with breaking my heart.”
Linder sat down and Wasso stood up again. Staring at Mark with a look of disgust, Wasso said, “Mark, a jury of your peers have reviewed your case and come to a decision.”
Opening an envelope, Wasso continued, “Mark, you are hereby found guilty off all charges put forth to you today. You are sentenced to a lifetime of guilt and shame for breaking the heart of the person you claimed was dearer to you than life itself. You are also sentenced to a life without Linder, David and I. The three of us wipe our hands clean of you. You are on your own from here on out.”
Wasso sat down and ignoring Mark turned to speak with David and Linder who sat beside him.
Nick and Brute came out of the shadows and un-cuffed Mark from the chair. Brute and Nick each grabbed one of Marks arms and started pulling him out of the room.
“No!” Mark shouted, “Please, no! You can’t do this. Wasso, please you’re my best friend. Linder, please Linder, I love you. I can’t live without you. Please Linder, I’m sorry. Please forgive me, I love you Linder, I love you…”
No one on the bench of accusers looked up at Mark as he was dragged from the room begging for forgiveness and Mark’s heart broke at the sight of Linder ignoring him…
***
Mark woke with tears streaming down his face, repeating over and over “Linder, Linder I love you, don’t leave me, don’t leave me.”
Mark slowly became aware that he was in his own room and in his own bed. As Mark became aware that it had been a terrible dream, he felt relief as he had never before – he still had time to make everything right with Linder.
Mark wondered at the time and hoped he hadn’t slept for too long. Linder was, hopefully, coming over after school. Mark wondered if he had enough time to bake something special for Linder before he showed up. Mark started to roll over to look at his alarm clock only to realize his arm was trapped under something. Mark fully woke at the thought and realized that Linder was cuddled up in his arms asleep.
Mark gently removed his arm from under Linder and propped himself up so he could look at Linder. Linder was so beautiful when sleeping. Mark wanted to be able to watch Linder sleep every night for the rest of his life.
Linder murmured in his sleep and shifted until he was snug up against Mark again. Mark chuckled and sank down on the bed again. Mark wrapped his arms around Linder and rolled them until Linder was curled up against Mark’s side with his head on Mark’s chest. Linder murmured a bit more in his sleep and threw a leg over Mark and moved a hand until it clamped on Mark’s shoulder. Mark marveled in the feel of Linder against his skin. Mark let his hands start to roam over Linder’s body. Mark loved the feel of Linder’s skin; it was so smooth and warm. As Mark’s hands skimmed over Linder, Linder snuggled as close as he could to Mark and shifted until his head was nuzzled up against Mark’s neck.
Mark put a finger on Linder’s chin and tilted his head. “Linder are you awake?” Mark asked with a gentle kiss.
Linder just murmured a little more, this time saying Mark’s name. Mark smiled and rolled himself over until he was above Linder. Mark pressed gentle kisses over Linder’s face. “Come on Linder, time to wake up.”