Broken Heart

57 Goodbye

AUTHOR'S POV

The morning dawned with a deceptive tranquility, the soft light filtering through the curtains of Kevin and David's room, casting a gentle glow on their sleeping forms. But beneath the surface of this peaceful tableau, a storm was brewing, a storm that would soon break and shatter their lives.

Kevin woke first. He lay beside David, watching him sleep, his face serene and beautiful even in slumber. But as his consciousness sharpened, the memory of the younger words crashed over him, the words he had overheard the previous night: "...how miserable and helpless I feel in this marriage..."

The pain was still raw, the wound still fresh, and it fueled his resolve. He had to leave. He had to give the younger, the freedom he craved, even if it meant sacrificing everything he held dear.

He slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb David, and walked into the bathroom. The cool tile beneath his bare feet was a stark contrast to the burning ache in his heart. He stood under the shower, the cold water cascading over his body, trying to wash away the pain, the guilt, the overwhelming sense of loss. But it was no use.

The words were etched into his mind, a constant, agonizing reminder of the life he was about to abandon.

David stirred as Kevin emerged from the bathroom, the steam lingering in the air. He sat up in bed, his brow furrowed with concern. "Kevin?" he asked, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Are you alright? You were... you were very drunk last night. I've never seen you like that before."

Kevin forced a casual smile, a mask of normalcy that felt foreign and brittle. "I'm fine," he said, his voice carefully controlled. "Just... a little too much pressure for the battle . I needed to... prepare."

David studied him, his gaze sharp and perceptive. He could sense the tension in him, the subtle shift in his demeanor. Kevin was hiding something, he could feel it. It wasn't just the hangover; it was something deeper, something more profound.

"Kevin," he pressed, his voice filled with a growing unease. "Are you sure? You seem... different."

Kevin busied himself with getting ready for the battle, his movements deliberate and precise, avoiding the  younger gaze. "I'm fine, David," he repeated, his voice flat. "I have to go. The battle... it's important."

David watched him, his heart pounding with a nameless dread. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just about the battle. It was about something else, something he couldn't quite grasp, something that felt ominous and final and, as Kevin called him by his name rather than 'Sweetie'.

Later, as Kevin prepared to leave, the entire family gathered to see him off. The atmosphere was charged with a strange energy, a sense of foreboding that hung heavy in the air. Even Ethan and Evan, usually so boisterous and carefree, were subdued, their small faces filled with a quiet anxiety. Mia and Selene clung to Kevin, their tiny hands clutching his legs, their eyes filled with a desperate need for his presence.

Kevin hugged David and kids, his embrace lingering, almost desperate. He held them tighter, longer, than usual, his lips brushing against the younger hair, his heart aching with a love he knew he was about to leave behind. He kissed him, a deep, searing kiss that was both a goodbye and a plea for forgiveness, a silent promise that he would never forget them.

Then, he turned to his children. He knelt down and gathered them in his arms, holding them close, his body trembling slightly. He kissed each of them, his tears mingling with theirs, his voice thick with emotion as he whispered words of love and encouragement. He held Mia and Selene especially long, memorizing their faces, their scent, the feel of their small bodies against his.

It was a goodbye, a farewell to his kids , his David and his family.

David watched him, his unease growing into a full-blown panic. He had never seen him like this, so... final. His heart screamed, a silent cry of warning, a desperate plea for him to stay.

Even their families could feel it. Mrs. Walton, usually so composed, had tears in her eyes. Mr. Walton, his face grim and pale, placed a hand on Kevin's shoulder, his touch heavy with a silent understanding. Mrs. Williams, her face etched with worry, hugged Kevin tightly, her embrace filled with a protective instinct.

Chris, his expression dark and troubled, watched Kevin with a mixture of concern and a growing sense of dread. Stella, her voice trembling, tried to make a joke, to lighten the mood, but her laughter fell flat, hollow and forced.

Then, with a final, lingering look, a look that conveyed a lifetime of love and regret, Kevin turned and left. He walked away from his family, his pack, his life, leaving behind a void that would soon become a gaping wound. He walked towards the battle, towards his self-imposed oblivion, leaving David and his family to grapple with the inexplicable sense of loss that hung heavy in the air, a loss they couldn't yet name, a loss that would soon shatter their world.