Hold my hand

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The sun slowly rose over the horizon, painting the endless plains in shades of gold and orange. The day promised to be hot, like all the summer days at the "Dusty Road" ranch. Vast fields dotted with dry bushes stretched out to the horizon, like a giant canvas where an artist decided to depict a boundless sense of loneliness and freedom.

Gemini stood by the old barn, soaking in every ray of the morning sun that gently warmed his face. He had long since grown accustomed to this vastness and this freedom. His boots left deep tracks in the packed earth, telling the story of each step.

He slowly slipped on his leather jacket, its scent mixing with the aroma of hay. The jacket was worn, with places showing signs of wear, but that only added to its charm. He ran his hand over the collar, remembering how his father had given it to him on his sixteenth birthday.

Behind him, he heard soft footsteps, and the young man turned around. The one he had expected to see appeared from behind the corner of the barn. Fourth. Unlike Gemini, Fourth wasn't a native of these lands. He had arrived at the ranch a year ago, a city boy deciding to try his hand at being a rancher.

From the very first days, Fourth had proven himself to be hardworking and eager to learn. He quickly mastered the basics of horse care and learned to stay in the saddle.

But there was something else, something unspoken that united them. It was a quiet, almost imperceptible charge in the air, something they both felt but never spoke of aloud. Gemini tried not to give it much thought, chalking it up to the work and the closeness that developed between two people who spent a lot of time together. But with each passing day, it grew stronger.

Fourth stopped in front of him, looking up at him with his dark eyes. There was a weariness in them, but also a genuine interest.

"Well, are you ready?" he asked, not hiding a slight smirk.

Gemini nodded, hiding his own smile. This guy could lift his spirits with just a single phrase.

"Of course," Gemini replied, adjusting his jacket. "Someone's got to make sure you don't fall off the horse again."

Fourth laughed, his laughter as light as the morning breeze. They both knew Fourth had long since learned to stay in the saddle, but Gemini's teasing had become a sort of tradition.

The horses stood nearby, tied to the fence. Gemini approached his trusty companion—a large chestnut stallion. Fourth chose a calmer mare for himself.

Once they were both ready, Gemini led the way towards the distant pastures. At first, they rode in silence, listening to the rhythm of the hooves and the rustling of the wind in the dry grasses.

About an hour passed before Fourth finally broke the silence.

"Gem, have you ever thought about leaving this place?"

Gemini pondered. It was a question he had asked himself many times, but he always found the same answer. This place was his home, his refuge. Here, he could be himself without any pretense. But Fourth... Fourth was different.

"Sometimes," he answered after a short pause. "But every time I think about it, I realize that I won't find a place like this anywhere else. Here, I feel alive."

"I understand," Fourth said slowly, as if carefully considering his words. "But sometimes I feel like I'm suffocating here. Like these wide open spaces, despite their freedom, are keeping me trapped. I know it sounds strange, but I... I just can't find myself here."

Gemini didn't reply. He understood. Life on these plains wasn't for everyone. And while at first, it seemed like a dream, in the end, it became a burden on the soul.

They continued riding in silence.

After they had inspected the pastures, Gemini suggested they take a break by the old oak tree that stood alone in the middle of the field. This tree had been here so long that it seemed to have seen everything—birth, death, joy, and sorrow. It had witnessed many events and held memories of the past in its branches.

Gemini was the first to dismount, leading his stallion by the reins. He tied him to the nearest branch and, looking back at Fourth, noticed something in his face that made him frown.

"Everything okay?" he asked, stepping closer.

Fourth just nodded. He didn't know what to say. It was like being at a dead end, with nothing but a cliff behind him. On one side was Gemini, making his heart tremble with just a glance, and on the other—unrequited feelings. He wasn't ready to lose Gemini, even if that meant watching him find happiness with someone else or even somewhere else.

Such a vague answer didn't satisfy Gemini, who, without a word, stepped even closer. Only a few centimeters separated them.

"Are you sure everything's okay? Fourth, if you want to leave, go. I'm not holding you back."

"I don't know, I'm not okay," Fourth quietly admitted, his voice trembling with emotion. "I don't want to leave, but at the same time, I can't stay here."

Gemini wanted to say something that might help, but the words got stuck in his throat. Instead, he just reached out and touched Fourth's shoulder.

Fourth looked at Gemini intently, his eyes filled with unspoken words. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them to a minimum. His gaze fell on the slightly parted lips of his "comrade," and he found it impossible to look away. But then he quickly stepped back, his mind made up. He couldn't ruin their destinies, neither his nor Gemini's.

At that same moment, Gemini's arms wrapped around his waist, pulling his hands behind his back.

"Trying to sneak away without answering? You want to leave but can't. What's holding you back?" he whispered in the now blushing boy's ear, lightly brushing his lips against the earlobe.

"Gem... I..." All his thoughts flew out of his head at the sight of those eyes opposite his own. "I don't want to leave... without you."

Those words, so simple and yet so complex, awakened feelings in Gemini that he had long buried and even forgotten. He realized that he couldn't back down, couldn't hide the obvious.

Their gaze held the truth they had both kept hidden for so long.

"Gem..." Fourth began, but his voice broke.

He didn't get to finish. Gemini, as if sensing his words, gently took his chin and leaned forward. Their lips met in a light, almost imperceptible touch that proved stronger than any words. They weren't thinking about anything except how much they wanted this moment to last forever.

Feeling a response, Gemini deepened the kiss, holding him tighter. In that moment, everything around them lost its meaning. Gemini didn't know what the future held for them, but one thing he understood for sure: he was ready to go through anything, as long as Fourth was by his side.