A love like ours

Chapter 1

Beam took off his surgical mask and head cover and slumped onto a chair in the break room after yet another grueling surgery at the understaffed rural hospital.  At this point, he couldn't remember the last time he got more than 4 hours of sleep. He was running on sheer willpower and a lot of caffeine.

"You look like absolute shit!"

Beam was startled out of his daze by the sudden voice. He looked up at the tall guy, Phana, one of his best and oldest friends and flipped him off.

"Wow! Nice Dr. Baramee. Very classy. Is that the thanks I get for bringing food to your ungrateful ass?"

Phana huffed and sat next to the wiped out man in scrubs and shoved a bottle of iced tea into his hands.

"Just drink the freaking thing before you even try to give me a smart response. Though I don't know how smart it would be knowing that you took over Sutthee's shift yet again." He scoffed. "That makes it three straight shifts man and that is not safe for you or your patients."

Beam grabbed the bottle and downed the whole thing before flashing Pha his patented smile with his dimples on display.

"I know what you were going for with that. But, hate to break it to you man. It's not working. You still look terrible."

Beam swatted at him and turned back to just melt into the uncomfortable chair. After a few minutes of silence, Beam realized that he should probably ask his friend why he was even there.

"Why are you here right now? Aren't you working the morning shift?"

Pha shook his head and let out a mirthless chuckle.

"Beamie, what time do you think it is?"

Beam just looked clueless. Pha then shoved his phone's display in his face and Beam realized that it was already 7:00 am and way past his original time of leaving to make it home to his husband of seven years to spend their anniversary together.

Eyes wide, Beam stood up, "Holy shit! I am so late! Forth is going to be so mad."

"What are you talking about?"

"I promised Forth that I'd be home for our anniversary, which is today. I told him that we'd spend the whole day together." Beam whined pathetically.

Pha winced and gave his friend a pitiful smile.

"I'm sorry man. But there is no way I'm letting you drive in your state. And it's the weekend, so there are no buses from the village into Bangkok, till tonight."

Beam felt like crying. Pha gave his shoulder a supportive squeeze.

"You should go get changed, eat and give Forth a call. I'm sure he's anxious.

Beam flinched. Here he was, letting the man he loved down yet again. He dreaded letting Forth know. But he knew that he had to.

"Thanks for the food. I'm going to do what you said. Wish me luck!"

Pha looked at his friend's retreating form with worry and he was going to follow him to make sure he ate but a nurse called out to him and he had to go start his shift.

Beam let the water from the shower cascade over him and hoped it could wash away all his problems, his achy body and troubled heart. He couldn't help but think of what he would say to his husband, to apologize for flaking on him yet again. He was transported to their last conversation, which was more of a fight.

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It was at their house. Beam had finally made it home after a month of not even seeing his husband. They had spent the whole day just reveling in each other's presence. At the end of the day, both of them were content, in their living room, on the couch. Forth with his head on Beam's lap and Beam running his fingers through the soft hair. With his eyes closed, he looked so peaceful and Beam hated that he had to tell him the news about him not being able to take time off for their planned vacation.
He swallowed hard and let out a deep sigh.