One-shot [English]

[Uncontrolled love] - Happy ending

It was probably the hottest day of the year. At least that's how the young man felt. But his presence in the sun for several hours had to distort his estimates. Indeed, around him, several people wore light sweaters, seeking shelter from the light wind which had not stopped since the morning.

He wiped the drops of sweat that were beading on his forehead. In his gardening outfit, Shu Nian was really too hot. He slowly opened his gray uniform, just enough to let his white shirt show. He pushed his cap down a little more over his eyes, when he noticed a young woman looking at him. He quickly nodded to her. He grabbed his watering can, and hobbled away. A little further on, leaning against a tree, his bike was waiting for him. He picked it up, and climbed on.

He walked through the alleys of the park without even paying attention. He had been working here for three years already. He had been hired as a gardener. It was a quiet job, and his life was quiet. Banal.

Everything he had ever wanted. At least, it was everything he had been denied since the beginning of his life. He finally felt like he could breathe as the wind whipped across his face. Despite this feeling of freedom, he still had a lump in the back of his throat. He knew very well why.

Slowly, his thoughts began to drift toward him. He knew he shouldn't. He had held on, for so long. But sometimes it was really hard. Three years without thinking, seeing, touching, or even hearing from the person you loved was a long time. Too long, even, for someone like him, who had always lived by his side.

In the last few months before he left, their relationship had become really intense. He remembered everything, in great detail. Of his excessive jealousy, of that girl he had brought home and kissed. But also, and especially, of their kisses. Those they had exchanged in his room, impatient, violently. As if it had become vital for one as for the other. After a few moments of happiness, which seemed to have lasted only a few seconds, everything had collapsed. From the moment his parents had discovered everything.

He had no choice but to leave. Machinally, as his memories progressed, he brought his hand to his face. He would be marked for life, he knew.

It was one of the many reasons he couldn't go back to the one he loved. Of course, he had kept up with everything. Sure, he had cut off contact with him, but with the internet, not with the outside world.

He realized how easy it had been for him to disappear. No friends to worry about, no family to tell. He had always had only him. His master.

And now he had no one. He sighed once more.

He shook his head, telling himself to stop thinking about it. He knew he couldn't spend the rest of his life like this, moping about him. He would never see him again. That was his choice. He had to live with the consequences.

The sun was starting to decline on the horizon. Shu Nian had finally finished his day.

He liked to take care of this park. Surrounded by business buildings, it was very quiet during the day. It was most animated at first light, when joggers appeared, at lunch time, when employees went out to enjoy the few rays of sunshine, and at the exit of the offices. The rest of the time, he was alone. He liked the quiet, being able to watch the birds flying around lazily, watering the flowers. In those moments, he could really pay attention to every detail.

This is also what made the park beautiful again. He had made a habit of leaving nothing to chance, and of being very meticulous. Every flower was watered, every petal was removed if it rotted. He also knew by heart the name of each plant, and each species. He knew where the squirrels hid their loot, when the birds made their nests. He even learned to recognize the signs of animals in the earth. He never mowed near rabbit holes, for fear of scaring them.