The Fill-in Boyfriend // DNF

-~26~-

He wanted it to stop. Everything hurt. The bright lights beyond his closed eyelids, every intake of labored breath, every heartbeat.

Was he dead?

If this was death, then he felt it was no better than living. The pain was supposed to stop.

A pulsing beeping sound slowly but surely came into hearing and he tried to open his eyes to make sense of the origin.

A hand landed on his, warm and big. He had a weird feeling of familiarity.

"George?"

That's funny. Who was George?

The voice blurred out of his hearing and he felt himself slipping once more. This time, the darkness brought welcoming relief.

I wonder who George is?

—

The first thing he noticed was the warmth.

It was prominent and large. Enveloping him in a comforting blanket of safety. And then the pain returned. Dull and throbbing. Every breath was a fight.

George opened his eyes with much difficulty.

Light flooded his pupils, pristine and blinding. He winced, and blinked rapidly at the ceiling.

"George?!"

George wanted to move his head so badly, but it all just hurt.

He had failed.

Hearing that voice was so much more painful than what he was feeling right now.

"George?" The voice was softer now.

He grimaced, and finally turned his head to his left.

Dream, with a bedhead that would make a hair stylist cry, sat next to him.

"How are you feeling?"

George stayed silent. He didn't want to deal with this. It was supposed to have ended.

"Georgie?"

He felt the hair on his neck stand on end. His eyes widened, still fixated in Dream's.

Dream looked sad.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" His mum's concern almost convinced him.

"Why are you here?" George's voice was hoarse, as if he had screamed for hours on end.

Maybe he had.

"Oh, hunny. Is that any way to speak to your mother?"

George looked from her to Dream. "Get her out."

There was no emotion behind his voice. He was done pretending with her. Done playing this game.

"Where's Slyvi?" Why wasn't his mom behind bars? Why was she here?

"You can't kick me out! In fact, why is your boyfriend here? I'm your mother!" His mom clasped her hand over George's but he pulled back with so much aggression, she actually flinched.

"GET OUT!" George yelled. He glanced at Dream for help and noticed him reach over to push the button on his bed for the nurse.

His mum's worry turned to anger in an instant. "You little faggot. HOW DARE YOU! How dare you call the police on us for mere discipline! It was for your own good! You should be thanking us!" She screamed. Her hands were back, digging into his arm with her acrylic nails.

George cried out despite himself.

It seemed Dream had had enough. He stepped forward and shoved George's mum away from him, fury written all over his face. "Get out! Can't you hear him!"

"You are not his parent!" George's mum spat, turning like a dime on Dream. "You are nothing but a gay fag!" She slashed at him with her nails but Dream was quick to dodge.

A nurse knocked and everyone froze as she entered. George felt he would collapse from relief.

"Is there an issue?" The nurse inquired, oblivious to the tension in the room.

George nodded. "Get her out. I don't want to see her near me ever again." He said, pointing at his mum.

Anger flashed in her eyes, but she followed the nurse out with little resistance.

George collapsed back onto his bed the second the door had closed. He felt like he had ran a hundred marathons and sang a million songs. He closed his eyes, willing the world away.

Dream broke his peace. "George..."

"Don't say a fucking word." George breathed. He was so unbearably tired. Tired of having to breathe, tired of trying to fix things. He opened his eyes and stared at the non judgmental ceiling.

Dream had fallen silent.

"Why is she here?" George asked, his voice frighteningly calm. He had to clear his throat afterwards and the action was like a metal scraping his esophagus.

"Your mom? I'm pretty sure the hospital called her to let her know about your situation. Your sister is also here." Dream replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

George refused to look at him.

"And why are you here, Dream?"

Dream inhaled a shaky breath. "I wanted to ask you to give me a chance to explain."

George could hear his feet shuffling anxiously on the floor.

He frowned. "I said I never wanted to see you again."

Dream nodded. "I know. I'll respect that decision if you'll just hear me out. Please, George." There was a hint of desperation seeping into Dream's voice that George could not ignore for the life of him. He sighed.

"Leave me alone."

"George—"

"I said, GET OUT." George shouted, his voice cracking from the effort.

Dream stood abruptly and looked down at him, forcing eye contact. The sadness behind those green eyes could break anyone's heart. But George steeled himself from the emotion, sending a defiant glare his way.

The door closing behind him felt like a finale.

George let out the breath he had been holding, beginning to relax again when the door opened suddenly.

He shot a glare at the door, expecting Dream, but instead saw his nurse. His expression melted away instantly.

"That young man, leaving the room right now?" She said as she approached him, "He saved your life." 

Uhhhhm soooooo, 😶‍🌫️😶‍🌫️