The Beginning

Phil

He stands up and turns around, facing me. His eyes are bright red, and there are tears streaming down his face, veins bulging out of his neck.

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU."

His voice breaks as he's saying it, like it's the hardest thing in the world for him to say. After he says it, he just stands there, his eyes growing wider as he realizes what  he's just said, and he sharply turns around and sits back down on his bed. He covers his face with his hands. "Just...Just go away."

And this is it. This is the moment where all of the pieces join together. When everything starts to make sense, and I feel this overwhelming sense of accomplishment. "Please," he says, his voice high and quavering. I've never heard him like like this; so little, so helpless, so scared. I walk towards him, and crawl on my hands and knees across his bed. Sitting behind him with my leg crossed, I put my hand on his back. He's still covering his face, and I can feel him shaking. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I ask.

"Because I ruined everything. Just think about it," he says, through his hands. " I did. And I can't change that, and I hate myself for it. I couldn't just...I don't know..."

With every word Dan said, my heart sank. I had no idea that he was feeling this way, and he didn't know how I felt. He'd been so ashamed, so hurt. I push myself back, so that my head is resting on his pillow.

"Come here,"

"What?" he says, turning towards me. His eyes are red, and his brow furrowed.

"Come here," i say again.

He slowly turns around, and lays on the bed next to me, his head on my chest. I run my hand through his wavy  hair, and look down at him. He is smiling, his eyes closed, pressing his face into my green sweatshirt. Nothing needs to be said; we both know what the other is thinking. This time, the silence fills the gap, instead of making me feel empty.
We stay like this until we both fall asleep, his arm against my chest, my lips pressed to the top of his head,