Prince Farley [BL]

Chapter 5

Farley memorized every little detail about him. Small details he's had five years to cherish.

Kade had a mole under his eye, no last name, an earthly scent, dark skin, curly hair, and a soft spoken voice. Farley's listened to that voice for the past five years. The unknown of when he'd hear it again left a growing lump in his throat.

At least two years, he reckoned. I'll be a man in two years, and perhaps in those two years when Farley's crowned a man, he can truly stand up to Father and stand as equals. I'll be Farley, a king in waiting. Not Farley, the crown prince.

There were no guards at Kade's cell. In fact, the door leading down to the cells was even open. The only thing that kept the two boys apart was the cell itself and the bars that shaped it.

Kade felt so far away even when Farley could reach out to touch him.

A prince's punishment, it seemed quite laughable. It was, wasn't it? A prince so spoiled his punishment was inflicted on someone else. Farley's punishment wasn't really punishment at all, it was a person. A boy, to be precise. A boy I was fond of.

A friend. The consequences of befriending the crown prince. Kade was and would always be the only person to know these consequences. Because he was my only companionship.

Farley could not hold the apologies from spilling from his mouth, "I'm sorry."

In the dimly lit cell, Kade smiled behind the bars that separated them, his lips stretching into a tired, small smile. "What for?"

"Everything," Farley said. "I'm not sure how I would've avoided this.. but I'd go back and change something if I could." Perhaps I'd go back to when we never met. But no, those five years were the best years Farley's ever lived and he will forever cherish them.

I won't allow myself to think I've gone crazy and made him up.

His name was Kade. He smiled often, but it was always tired. He wanted to be a knight, and now he is. He was my only friend. He was but a boy when we met, and almost a man when he left. His name was Kade. That's how Farley will remember him, along with every other detail he's memorized.

"I don't regret it," Kade said. His palms pressed into the cold stone floor. Farley felt the same coldness.

"But if we could at least go back to that night and change it, then-"

"I don't regret it," he repeated. "I refuse to regret it." His hair was so long now. It curled into his eyes and he was forced to brush it away. "Just like you, you're my only person. Going back would be taking away a memory of you. I don't want that."

Farley's heart thumped. It thumped again. Thumpthumpthump.

This was their reality. Kade stuck in a cell while Farley had the privileges of a prince. There was no physical cell to imprison Farley, just reality.