Gerard Way, the son of the richest man in town, faces pressure from his family and community after coming out as bisexual. Forced into an arranged marriage with Hayley Williams, Gerard hides a secret affair with the town's respected pastor, Frank Ie...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
*TW: Violence*
7 Months Later...
The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains and Gerard stirred. As he slowly blinked his eyes open, he became aware of the familiar warmth and weight against his side. Hayley was nestled in his arms, her head resting on his chest, her soft, steady breaths a comforting rhythm. Her hair spilled over his shoulder and across the pillow. The scent of her lavender shampoo filled the air and Gerard sighed quietly.
He tightened his hold on Hayley ever so slightly. He loved Hayley; she was his wife, the mother of his unborn child, and the person he had promised to protect and cherish.
Hayley shifted slightly in her sleep, her arm draping across Gerard's stomach and he watched her for a moment. She looked so serene and he wished he could be the husband she deserved, the father their child would need.
Carefully, Gerard extricated himself from Hayley's embrace, trying not to wake her. He sat up in bed, running a hand through his tousled hair and he glanced back at her.
He knew he needed to talk to her, to find a way to reconcile his feelings and the reality of his life. But for now, he just wanted a moment to himself, to gather his thoughts and steel himself.
Gerard quietly slipped out of bed, his feet touching the cool floor as he made his way to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, hoping it would clear his mind and wash away some of the confusion.
As he stared at his reflection in the mirror, he couldn't help but see the traces of the man caught between two worlds - the loving husband and father, and the man deeply in love with someone he could never truly have.
He sighed, turning away from the mirror and heading back to the bedroom. Hayley was still asleep, her hand now resting where Gerard had been lying. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, a silent apology for the secrets he kept.
Gerard sat back down on the edge of the bed, the mattress sinking slightly under his weight and he glanced at his left hand, his fingers lightly tracing the ring he wore.
It wasn't his wedding ring - the symbol of his vows to Hayley - but a simple band that Frank had given him. As he twisted the ring around his finger, Gerard's mind drifted back to the day Frank had given it to him.
They had been lying together, tangled in the sheets of Frank's apartment, the world outside forgotten. Frank had slipped the ring onto Gerard's finger with a soft, earnest promise: "This is my heart, Gerard. No matter what happens, remember that you have it."
That moment felt like a lifetime ago.
It had been seven months since he and Frank had lost contact. Seven months of silence, distance, and unanswered questions. Gerard's heart ached with the weight of it all. He missed Frank - missed his touch, his voice, his presence. The longing was a constant, dull ache that never quite left him.
