MUKE short stories

bad omens ♪ 4

it begins.

♪♪♪

"Hi, mum." Luke picked up the phone.

"Hi, baby. Where are you? I can hear traffic?"

"I'm stuck in a yam, but I have you on the speaker, so don't worry."

"Okay," Liz said warily, still not liking the fact that her youngest was not concentrating completely on the road. "Why are you in the car so late?"

They usually talked every Wednesday afternoon, when Luke had no clubs or other activities.

"I had to drive to the city center to get some recording thing for my guitar. I need it tomorrow and shipping it would take too long or it'd be too expensive."

"Did you break the old one?"

"No," Luke bit his lips. "I used to use a lot of Michael's equipment."

"Baby, I think you could just take it. I don't think Michael would notice or care."

Luke laughed. "True, I did take many things from his studio but I bought him this piece and I'd feel weird taking it."

Liz agreed. "How is the entire Michael situation going?"

He was getting tired of answering this question to his friends and family but this was his mum. Probably the only person who knew and understood their relationship completely.

"Honestly? I don't know. It's weird. It's very weird. Sometimes I forget he lives here and when I see him it feels like I'm seeing a ghost. Other times we start talking and it's like he never left, and when the realization of what we actually are now hits. It gets to me."

It was the first time he said it out loud, but he's been thinking about it for a while.

"Of course, it hurts Luke. He was your best friend. I feel like you never mourned that part properly. The divorce and break up was too overwhelming."

"Yeah, my therapist said that too. On the other hand, I do not see him that often. His kitchen is getting fixed. We got used to each other's schedules. So, I try and stay away."

"I just want you to know how proud I am of you. I always have been. The way you deal with hard things in life is something even I'm jealous of."

"Thank you, mum. You should come and visit sometime. I know Michael would love to see you."

She sighed. "I miss that rascal."

Luke laughed. She always called him that. Even in the speech at their wedding.

He could feel his voice shaking when he said goodbye. He shouldn't fear the memories.

♪

The light in the kitchen was on, so Luke called out when he entered.

"Hi," Michael grinned at him.

No amount of therapy could ever erase what Michael's smile did to his heart.