Apocrypha

Chapter 33

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are already doing."
1 Thessalonians 5: 11

AFTER SEARCHING through the woods, Cassio found Gabriel and Lysander. The two men were hugging each other while kissing. Cassio cleared his throat.

"Cassio?" Gabriel asked, stepping away from his lover. Lysander pouted in disappointment.

"Can I talk to you, Gabriel? It's about Horatio." Cassio said.

"Sure." Gabriel lowered his shirt. "I'll be back." He said to Lysander.

"What am I to do without you?" Lysander replied.

"Pick some wild flowers for me." Gabriel called out. He followed Cassio to an area a few feet away.

"Something's up with Horatio. I know you're pretty close to him, so I was wondering if you could tell me what's going on." Cassio said.

Gabriel leaned on a tree. He saw how distressed Cassio looked over his friend. While he appreciated Cassio's concern, Gabriel knew he could not tell him the exact reason his friend was becoming distant.

"Why do you think Horatio hasn't told you?" Gabriel asked.

Cassio shrugged. "Don't know. That's something I have yet to figure out." He replied.

"Well, I can't tell you why Horatio is acting like this."

"Just tell me! God!" Cassio snapped. "How am I supposed to fix something if I don't even know what I broke!"

"You haven't broken anything, Cassio. He's hurt. But not by you, directly at least." Gabriel replied, making his voice more empathetic.

Cassio huffed until his anger subsided.

"Tell me if he's okay. If you won't tell me what's wrong with Horatio, at least assure me that he'll be fine."

Gabriel chewed the inside of his cheek. "He'll be okay, eventually. For now, give him space, but also make sure you're there. He might try to push you away, but that's his way of trying to protect himself."

"So, be there while being away?" Cassio asked.

"Yes. You and Horatio have been friends for so long, I'm sure you'll find the right balance to do it."

Cassio looked in the distance and saw Lysander reaching down and picking small flowers from the foliage below. Lysander had a smile on his face and would smell each flower before placing them in his other hand to form a bouquet.

"How are you able to love him when you know that loving him can kill you?" Cassio asked.

Gabriel glanced back to see Lysander. "We just do it. I've found many things are hard to do. But loving that man is the easiest thing ever. I don't have to think about it, it just is."

"Aren't you worried that someone will find out and he could be killed?"

"Of course, I am. Our very existence is illegal. But we're still here, right? If we were truly doing something against God, he would've killed us by now. And yet, here we stand. The best I can do is live for myself the way that would nourish me."

Cassio awed at his courage. He wondered if he'd ever be able to do something as such.

"I'll leave you two alone." Cassio muttered. "Thanks."

"Anytime." Gabriel said. He watched as Cassio ran back in the direction of the house.

"Is he alright?" Lysander asked, coming up from behind with his right hand clutching several wild flowers.