Captive

chapter 49

Silent Wishes

Jeff slipped out of his apartment, the cold night air wrapping around him like a silent companion. His steps were slow, his mind heavy with thoughts he couldn’t shake. The city was alive, but he felt distant from it, as if watching a film from behind glass.

He wandered aimlessly until he found himself at the park. The soft glow of streetlights illuminated the pathways, casting shadows on the empty benches and swaying trees. His eyes drifted to a couple sitting close together on one of the benches, their laughter soft, their hands entwined.

Another pair strolled by, their shoulders brushing, sharing quiet whispers and stolen glances. Jeff’s chest tightened, a deep ache settling in. That kind of love... will I ever have it?

He sank onto an empty bench, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The world felt full of connections he couldn’t grasp. He traced patterns in the air with his breath, the chill sinking deep.

Will I ever find someone who stays? Someone who doesn’t become a memory?

A soft breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it fragments of laughter and conversations. Jeff closed his eyes, imagining a different night—one where he wasn’t alone, where warmth wasn’t just a memory.

One day... maybe.

But as he opened his eyes, all he saw was the empty space beside him, a stark reminder of the distance between hope and reality.

Jeff sat quietly on the park bench, watching couples laugh and hold hands, the warmth of their connections contrasting sharply with the chill in his chest. The soft footsteps behind him barely registered until a familiar voice broke the silence.

“Mind if I sit?” Bible’s voice carried that calm, steady tone Jeff had missed.

Jeff glanced up, surprise flickering in his eyes, but he nodded. Bible sat beside him, maintaining a careful distance. The silence stretched between them, heavy with words unsaid.

Finally, Jeff broke it, his voice low. “Do you ever wonder if... we could’ve had something different?”

Bible’s eyes softened. “I think about it all the time.”

Jeff’s gaze dropped to the ground. “I don’t know if I’m ready to give us a chance.”

Bible’s expression didn’t falter. He studied Jeff, his voice gentle but firm. “I’ll wait.”

Jeff looked up, something pained in his eyes. “Then you’ll have to wait forever.”

A small, bittersweet smile formed on Bible’s lips. “It doesn’t change my mind.”

Jeff’s breath hitched. The quiet between them felt deafening, the weight of emotions pressing down. He wanted to say more, to push Bible away, to pull him closer—all at once. But the words wouldn’t come.

Bible stood, hands tucked in his pockets. “Take your time, Jeff. I’m not going anywhere.”

As he was trying to walked away

“Don’t go,” Jeff’s voice trembled, barely above a whisper.

Bible paused mid-step, turning back to look at him. The vulnerability in Jeff’s eyes was enough to make him stay. He sat back down, closer this time, their shoulders almost touching. Jeff’s gaze drifted back to the couples on the benches, their laughter echoing softly in the cool evening air.

A pained smile curved Jeff’s lips. “I wish I could have that. Simple, happy... but ours is so complicated.”

Bible’s eyes softened, his heart aching at the unspoken weight in Jeff’s voice. Silence stretched between them until Jeff spoke again, his voice distant. “You knew me when we were kids... You know I’m adopted, right? Do you have any idea how I ended up there?”

Bible nodded slowly, his voice low and steady. “Their second son... he died young. Liver failure. Your adoptive mother was devastated. That’s why your father decided to adopt a child.”

Jeff’s eyes flickered, absorbing the familiar story. Bible continued, his gaze distant as he recounted the past. “When they met you, she saw something in you. She wanted you, but your adoptive father... he wasn’t convinced. You were different. Born in different circumstances, there were risks. But she didn’t care. She saw something special.”

Jeff’s expression hardened, his voice bitter. “She saw what she wanted to see. But him... he never really accepted me. I’ve always been an outsider, even in my own home.”

A silence hung between them, thick with old wounds and unresolved pain. Jeff’s voice wavered. “If they hadn’t adopted me... maybe my life wouldn’t be so miserable.”

Bible’s heart clenched at the rawness in Jeff’s words. He reached out, his hand hovering near Jeff’s but not quite touching. “Jeff... you’re not defined by their choices. You’re stronger than that.”

Jeff’s eyes filled with unshed tears, the weight of everything he had held in for so long pressing down on him. “Sometimes, I just wish... it had all been different.”

The fading light of dusk cast a soft glow around them, the silence between Jeff and Bible heavy with unspoken words. The distant hum of life in the park surrounded them, but they were in their own world—two souls caught in the delicate tension of a moment that could change everything.

Bible took a step closer, his eyes searching Jeff’s. Without warning, he gently cupped Jeff’s cheek, his thumb tracing a line along his jaw. Then, he closed the distance, pressing his lips softly to Jeff’s. It wasn’t hurried or forceful—it was a kiss filled with years of longing, quiet promises, and deep understanding.

Jeff’s eyes fluttered shut as he melted into the kiss. His heart raced, not from fear, but from the weight of everything unspoken between them. This kiss felt different—it wasn’t like the others. It was steady, sure, a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed nearby, jolting them apart. Both turned their heads in shock and gasped.

On a nearby bench, a couple had gathered a small crowd. The woman was in tears, her hands covering her mouth as a man knelt in front of her, holding out a ring. The people around them clapped and cheered, their faces lit with joy and excitement.

Jeff’s eyes fixed on the scene, his heart sinking. A dull ache spread through his chest as he watched the couple embrace, their love so simple, so pure. He couldn’t tear his gaze away.

A pained smile tugged at his lips.  “Look at them. It’s so easy for them. Just... love and happiness. No baggage. No broken pieces. They don’t have to fight to make it work.”

Bible reached out, gently squeezing Jeff’s hand. “We have our own story, Jeff. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours. And I’m willing to fight for it.”

Jeff’s gaze remained on the couple, tears welling in his eyes. “I don’t know if I have the strength to keep fighting.”

Bible’s grip on his hand tightened. “Then let me be strong for both of us.”

Jeff finally looked at him, his expression torn between hope and despair. “I just... wish things were different.”

The laughter and cheers continued in the background, but to Jeff, it felt like they were a world away. The joy he saw there was a painful reminder of everything he longed for but felt was out of reach.

Bible moved closer, his voice soft but firm. “Maybe our story isn’t simple. Maybe it’s not perfect. But it’s real. And it’s worth fighting for.”

Jeff’s heart ached as he met Bible’s gaze. “You don’t understand...”

Bible’s eyes didn’t waver. “Then help me understand. Don’t shut me out.”

Jeff looked away, his voice a broken whisper. “I wish... I could believe that.”

The laughter of the crowd faded as the couple’s celebration moved on, leaving Jeff and Bible standing in the silence of the park, two souls struggling to find their way back to each other.