Moonlight

26

Pavel took a deep breath as he walked through the prison gates, carrying a carefully made birthday cake. It was a bittersweet journey, one he had contemplated for days. Finally, he stood outside the visitation room, waiting for his old friend Jeff to be brought in.

When Jeff entered, his eyes widened in surprise at seeing Pavel and the cake. Tears immediately filled his eyes. "Pavel... you never forgot my birthday," he choked out, his voice trembling with emotion.

Pavel placed the cake on the table between them, the silence stretching momentarily. He studied Jeff's face, seeing the weight of regret and guilt in his features.

Jeff began to cry, covering his face with his hands. "I'm so sorry, Pavel. I beg for your forgiveness every day. I know I don't deserve it, but I need you to know how truly sorry I am."

Pavel's expression remained unreadable, the pain and memories of the past swirling in his mind. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice steady but filled with sorrow. "Jeff, I need to hear you say that you didn't do anything wrong. Tell me you were innocent."

Jeff looked up, tears streaming down his face. He shook his head slowly. "I can't do that, Pavel. I deserve to be here. I'm a criminal. I did terrible things, and I have to live with that every day."

Pavel closed his eyes for a moment, the weight of Jeff's words pressing down on him. He had hoped for a different answer, a sliver of doubt to hold onto, but Jeff's confession only solidified the reality of the situation.

He opened his eyes and looked at Jeff, the conflict evident in his gaze. "I wanted to believe there was some mistake, that maybe you were wrongly accused. But hearing you admit it... it's hard."

Jeff's tears fell harder as he reached out, his hands shaking. "I know. And I'm so sorry for everything, Pavel. For the pain I've caused you and everyone else. I don't expect forgiveness, but I need you to know that I'm trying to change, to be better."

Pavel nodded slowly, the emotions swirling within him. "I brought this cake because, despite everything, you were my friend. And I wanted to show that some part of me still cares, still remembers the good times we had before everything went wrong."

Jeff's sobs quieted, and he looked at Pavel with a mixture of gratitude and heartbreak. "Thank you, Pavel. That means more to me than you can ever know."

They sat in silence for a few moments, the unspoken words hanging in the air. Pavel finally stood up, giving Jeff a small, sad smile. "Take care of yourself, Jeff."

As he turned to leave, Jeff's voice, though broken, followed him. "I will. Thank you for not forgetting me."

Pavel walked away, the weight of the encounter heavy on his shoulders, but a small sense of closure beginning to form in his heart

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Pavel stirred slightly as the weight of the bulky arms around him brought him out of his light slumber. Still groggy, he turned around, and his heart warmed at the sight of his husband.

Pooh: "Hey, love. You looked so peaceful, I couldn't resist."

Pavel smiled sleepily, his voice soft and affectionate. "I was just dreaming about you. You always know how to find me, even in my dreams."

Pooh sat on the bed, his hand gently caressing Pavel's face. "How are you feeling? You seemed a bit off earlier."

Pavel leaned into the touch, closing his eyes for a moment. "I felt a little dizzy, after coming home ... so I thought I'd rest for a bit. But having you here... it's the best medicine."