Labyrinth

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Christian is making dinner when he hears the sound of a car coming toward the house.

"Dad," Christian calls. "Can you get the door?"

"Yes, son," Garrison says.

Garrison opens the door to see his friends, William and Wendy.

"Good evening, come in, we weren't expecting visitors tonight." Garrison says nervously.

"We're sorry to come unannounced, but we need to talk to you all." William says.

Christian comes into the living room and sees his lover's parents.

Christian gives William and Wendy a big hug and they sit in the living room.

Christian sits in between William and Garrison. Wendy starts talking and then does he notice she has a bag with her.

"There's no right way to do this, son," Wendy starts visibly nervous and shaking.

Wendy pulls out a folded American flag. Garrison stops breathing when he sees it.

Christian looks at her confused.

"You're giving me a flag?" Christian genuinely does not know what's going on which makes it that much harder for the elders.

"Honey," Garrison starts. "When soldiers...don't make it home...the family is given a folded American flag."

"Don't make it home?" Christian says still confused.

"Christian," William now says, "Cameron was killed."

Christian doesn't move. Christian doesn't breathe. Christian doesn't blink.

"No, he wasn't," Christian says, shaking his head.

"He's alive, I know he is," Christian said.

"They also sent us his tags, son," William said.

"We want you to have the tag and the flag." Wendy said, holding Christian's hands.

"This isn't real, this isn't real, this isn't real!" Christian screams.

Christian takes the flag and tags and runs into his and Cameron's bedroom.

Christian is restless, he can't sit still. He tears off the bedding of the bed, wipes all the items that were on the dresser. He even knocks over the dresser.

Behind the dresser, Christian sees a locked jewelry box.

Christian decides to clean their room as it is very messy. He moves the dresser to sweep behind it and finds the jewelry box. He opens it and inside finds a silver wedding band. Shocked, Christian puts it in his pocket to ask Cameron later.

"Cameron," Christian says and sits on Cameron's lap.

"Yes, my buttercup," Cameron says, causing Christian to giggle.

"I was cleaning the room today and found this?" Christian pulls out the band.

"Honey, you weren't supposed to find that," Cameron laughs and kisses his nose.

"You want to marry me?" Christian says eyes glistening.

"Of course, I do." Cameron replied.

"We can't get married in Iowa, we can't get married anywhere in this country," Christian says.

"I don't need a piece of paper or a minister to prove my love, all I need is you." Cameron said.

Christian looks at the band in his hands and falls to his knees.

He releases a loud cry.

It hurts so bad.