Silent

27. A heavy heart

Michael stretched on the bed when he woke. He still felt somewhat drowsy as he tried to pull himself up. He heard noises from the kitchen; of coffee being boiled, the clicking of dishes. There was evidence that someone had slept beside him, but now the room was empty. He glanced at the clock radio on the nightstand, it was 4.30 am. Then he noticed the note next to it, which had his name written on it.

Michael reached to take the letter and opened it. He began to tremble when he read it, the words blurred in his eyes, he didn't want them to be true! "Jack," he choked out. "Jack!"

Jean heard Michael's cry, sighed, and left his morning chores to go to him. "Where's Jack?!" Michael asked, his eyes filled with tears. The boy held the letter in his hands looking at him desperately. "I want Jack, where is he?!" Jean stepped closer, trying to hug him, but Michael squirmed away from his hold.

"I'm sorry Michael, he wanted it this way, I couldn't stop him"

"He wouldn't leave me... I need Jack!" Michael got up from the bed, and walked to the living room; Jack's bag and his outdoor clothes were gone. Jean followed him slowly, walked behind him, and lowered his hands on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he repeated.

"We have to find him!" Michael said, turned, and looked at him with pleading teary eyes. "Jean, we have to find him," he repeated. Jean touched his cheek, smiling sadly.

"I don't know where he is, Michael... Jack wanted it this way and we don't have time to waste. You have to eat and get dressed and then we have to go to the airport." The boy however shook his head stubbornly.

"I won't go without him!"

Jean sighed with annoyance and turned to put his things together. "We don't have time for this Michael!" He snorted. "Jack is gone, accept it. We have to go soon, we don't have time to lose unless you rather stay with that man. I don't believe that he's very happy with you right now." 

Michael followed Jean with his eyes, feeling exhausted. Tears ran down his face silently now. He didn't understand how Jack could have done this to him. How could Jack leave him without saying a word, didn't he know how it would break him? 

He stood still and looked towards the window, it was still dark out and he felt empty inside. It had supposed to be a new start for them both, finally being able to be together without having to bear the cruelty of Ricky and Joe, without those countless faceless men... But now... Jack had left him without even allowing him to say goodbye. It felt cruel, and the Jack he knew wasn't cruel.

"Michael," Jean sighed with a soft tone. He then came to him, hugged him gently, and kissed his cheek. "We have to leave, you have to get dressed, and then you'll have some breakfast. The taxi will be here in less than an hour." Jean wiped his tears. "I know that you're sad, but you can't cry now, we don't want any extra attention, you understand?" Michael nodded feeling numb, he didn't want to think. Jean kissed his lips softly. "Everything will be alright. Soon we'll be in Paris and I'll make you happy, I promise."

Michael didn't know how he could be happy, everything felt pointless. Jack had left him, Jack who meant so much to him, who had been the reason to keep him going. Without Jack, he would have given up a long time ago.

Michael washed his face and got dressed; he tried to eat but couldn't force a single bite down. Jean packed him the sandwich, cleaned the kitchen quickly, and brought their luggage to the hall. Michael sat still trying his best not to think about his boyfriend who had left him with just the short letter that he still held in his hand.

Hazy, they sat in a taxi on their way to the airport. Jean exchanged a couple of words with the driver and smiled. 

Déjá vu; on his way to new promises, but promises were so easily broken. Away from Ricky, that was the important part and Michael tried to focus on that. He couldn't allow himself to think of Jack because it would have brought him to tears once more.