He grabs my shoulders and gently shakes me. His unblinking eyes lock onto mine. “Replace Darsey with someone else,” he whispers through his choked tears. “I know you like him. Or love him. Please, just replace him. And let me have him. Let me have him just for me.”
“Okay,” is all I can whisper, unsure of what I’m saying.
And strangely we come together in a hug that is meant to be awkward and built on the hate of the last five months, but it’s not awkward or hateful. We actually become friends in these few seconds. Strangely human. Equals.
* * * *
I’m one to follow rules, in rugby and in life. I stop at stop signs when driving. I pay my taxes. I don’t enter through exit doors. I toss food out after expiration dates. Rules add structure and prevent chaos. Rules are what keep humans from
