Beyond Darkness

Walnut Brownies

Vincent~

"Vincent"

"Vincent?"

Those green eyes were staring down at him, it was the first time he was witnessing the dusted specks of melanin dipped goldenish in the green, He felt a soft hand on his forehead, and then a sudden brightness made him aware of his surroundings. He was lucid dreaming? He blinked a few times to clear his vision and it took a while until his eyes adjusted to the brightness. His eyes fell on a short form. He waited for the man to turn around and when he did turn, Vincent felt a sweet joy at the sight.

"Jack!" He exclaimed, he tried to get out of bed to go embrace the old man in a huge bear hug but moving too suddenly gave him a headache, He saw Jack's expression turn to worry, but Vincent let him know that it was okay, just a small headache. He slowly got up and walked over and enveloped Jack in the tightest hug that he could handle. He let go once he heard Jack wheeze. They laughed. Vincent walked to the bathroom to freshen up. He caught himself in the mirror, he was looking a lot better than yesterday.

He was brushing his teeth when his brain took him back to that movie scene but this time he turned to a brown haired boy looking at him with the earnest eyes going on and on about the movie series.

And in a second Vincent was back to the bathroom with a toothbrush in my hand, dumbfounded staring at the mirror. Until it all came back. He held on to the counter as it felt like the sky had fallen on him, on the vile of a lover. He turned to find Jack looking at him with a solemn expression.

"Jack... Dylan..?" Jack just smiled at him, but without any answer he just turned around and closed the door behind him. Vincent was alone again. With his thoughts, with his guilt, with Dylan's presence in memories. He stripped off his gown and turned on the shower. Standing below the stream he let his the memories flow, from the first look to the last encounter. He opened his eyes, He had gotten him the ice chips. Where was he? Is he okay? Then he remembered what he had said to him. "Maybe" Vincent whispered the word. Was he really gone? "Maybe."

It didn't make him sad though. He was happy that Dylan had went away. Vincent hadn't been kind to him, he had gotten everything wrong all these years. This heartache was definitely a kind of punishment in a way. He had now lost the only person who had made his heart ache with all the right pain. He leaned against the wall. It felt cold against his skin but he couldn't care less. Maybe. Maybe. He let the word reel in and for the first time, he let his emotions flow and disappear in the stream of water. Completely disguised.

As the water ran cold, he stepped out and saw the robe placed by Jack, The old man had always been soft on him. Especially when his parents separated and He had come to live with his father. He had always been there, Fifteen years ago and even now. He had smiled at the mention of Dylan's name, maybe Dylan had met Jack after all. Could it be? That Dylan had left something for Vincent? Though he didn't know that why Vincent was so sure about Dylan letting go? He was definitely happy with Dylan's decision, Was he really though?

Vincent walked out to an empty room but the a small table was there on his bed, There was a breakfast spread on the little table. Jam sandwiches, a fruit bowl, the fruits cut up in squares just how he liked. There was also a small mason jar placed next the the fruit bowl, Was that? It was Choco-walnut brownies? He unscrewed the lid and popped one piece in his mouth, and it melted on his tongue like heaven. He got into the bed, picked up the news paper and a small sticky note fell out from between the pages.

Vincent hesitantly picked up the note, He almost did not want to read what it said. He recognized the ink bleed on the back of the paper. It was his fountain pen. He turned the note over, and in a neat cursive print were all but two words, "Come soon?" with a small asymmetrical heart. God bless this man. Vincent experienced an overwhelming need to run home, to his angel and wrap him in his arms. He felt the moisture prick at his eyes. He placed the note and had his breakfast, with a peace in his chest and heart.

Jack soon walked in and must have read the expression on his face and smiled brightly at Vincent. "You look happy, I see you found it." Vincent just nodded with a mouth full of fruits he tried to speak but Jack just brushed him off with a good manners dialogue. Vincent looked at Jack in horror. How could he? What if someone had heard? Jack just looked at him with a monotonous expression until his facade cracked and he started laughing. The doctors and a few nurses walked in and started the routine checks, tallying with his charts, all while Vincent was stuffing his face with brownies.

"Vincent, We have scheduled you for another round of reports, a final round, also an MRI to rule out any abnormalities in brain function as well. Since your case was a little complicated we want to be completely sure that you'll be healthy and then you can definitely go back home, and with a few weeks go back to your normal routine." The doctors told him, Vincent smiled and nodded, after they left Vincent sighed and popped the last few pieces of fruits in his bowl. Jack had gone out to get some things. He then picked up the note and held it in front of him. Vincent licked the side of his thumb and pressed the note, the ink bled through smudging on the paper, Somehow it made Vincent happy.

"Maybe."