The Secret Between Us//Gallavich

25| In mourning

IAN
I sat on the couch, a coffee in my hands as I thought about Mickey.

"Ian, you alright?" Fiona asked as she sat beside me.

"Apart from the fact that my boyfriend's dad just died, yeah, I'm fine." I laid back.

"It's gonna be okay." Fiona smiled.

"Really? Mickey's currently laying on my bed, crying and sleeping. He hasn't gotten out of bed in 10 hours. That sounds like something I'd do." I rolled my eyes.

"The only difference is that Mickey is mourning the loss of his father, albeit he was homophobic and an asshole, whereas you are Bipolar and experience manic depression when you're off your meds." Fiona explained.

"I know, but...I've never seen Mickey like this before." I sighed.

"I have. 9 years ago. He was 11. At that time, our mom had been in jail for 8 years. When he found out that her bat-shit crazy ass had been released, he acted exactly like this. He was depressed, but not as bad as you, Ian." Mandy sat down.

"He didn't...try to hurt himself or anything like that, did he?" Fiona asked, concerned.

"Nope. Like everyone else when mourning, he expresses his feelings differently. Other people constantly cry, or just conceal their feelings. He shuts himself away and either cries or sleeps, or cries until he sleeps." Mandy sighed.

"S- Should I comfort him?" I asked.

"No. You try and comfort him, he might try to hurt you. I'd suggest to let him be until he's ready to talk. If you try and help him sooner, you'll end up in the hospital." Mandy shook her head.

"What about you? He was your dad too." Fiona looked at Mandy, who leaned back.

"I'm fine. I have no feelings toward Terry. I had become so used to his bullshit that mourning him doesn't seem right. I'm just...getting on with my life. I'm not letting his death affect me." Mandy smiled.

"You and Mick are really different..." I laughed.

"Yeah, I guess we are. You'd assume that he'd be the one completely numb to Terry's death, and I'd be the one shutting people out. I guess Terry must have had a worse influence on Mickey, 'cause he's gay." Mandy shrugged her shoulders.

"You think that Mickey is being affected more by Terry's death because he's gay?" Fiona asked, worried.

"Yep. Terry was many things, including racist and an asshole, but above anything else, he was homophobic. He was very vocal about his views on homosexuality and he wasn't afraid to hurt people because they were gay. Being homophobic and having a gay son would have set his anger off to a whole new level, and clearly it did." Mandy explained.

"It also didn't help that Mickey was forced to hide his true sexuality every day of his life, or since he knew he was gay. Unlike Ian, who came out to everyone and was supported, if Mickey had come out, Terry would have killed him." Mandy exhaled, defeated.

I got up, intending to go and cuddle with Mickey, and let him know that I was there for him.

"Ian, don't." Fiona tried to stop me.

I ignored her and walked upstairs to my room, seeing Mickey sleeping on my bed. His eyes were red and his cheeks were tear-stained.

I crawled into bed with him, wrapping my arms around his torso. I smiled a tiny bit when he turned and cuddled into me, his face now resting in the crook of my neck. Without warning, I heard soft cries. I closed my eyes and stroked his hair, trying to soothe him.

"I'm here for you Mick. Whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be here." I spoke, letting Mickey continue to cry.

FIONA
Mandy and I walked upstairs, worried that maybe Mickey had unintentionally hurt Ian. But, to our surprise, we walked up to the bedroom door and watched in awe as Ian rested on the bed, his eyes closed, Mickey's head rested peacefully in the crook of Ian's neck. We could hear faint cries, but we knew that this was necessary until Mickey was ready.

Moving slightly closer, my heart skipped when I heard Ian say something.

"I'm here for you Mick. Whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be here." Ian spoke as he let Mickey continue to cry.

"Ian is really sweet." Mandy smiled as I shut the bedroom door, leaving them alone.

"They're definitely made for each other." I replied, smiling as Mandy and I walked downstairs.