Routine

Day 23

It has been three days and I haven't seen Steven around university. When I ask Steven's parents they deny that he's visited which is not out of the ordinary but when I ask the others that live in the dorms with him they also deny ever seeing him.

I cannot shake the feeling that something has happened. I do not doubt for a second that my gut is wrong. All I want to do was see Steven smile again, is this so much to ask. What has happened?

Even though I'm all too much against it I have to stop thinking about Steven and head to class. If time would just stop, Steven and I could see one another. Surprisingly enough the answer to my problem found me after class. My mother always told me never to eavesdrop but how could I not. At the pitch these women were speaking could you really classify it as eavesdropping.

"Hey. I heard that gay around campus," One spoke.

"Yeah," The other replied.

"Mmhm. Beat and killed,"

My heart could burst. I know of only two gays. Myself and Steven. They are wrong. They have to be, just have to.

"He should've stuck to women,"

I don't think before I open my mouth "Who! Who beat and killed him?"

I used to think that the worst thing that would happen to me would occur in high school but I was wrong. I made my way down those halls and towards the schools back, just like the women had said 'Four boys, they will stand out',' I hadn't understood what they meant until I saw the boys. Head to two, these boys were covered in bruises, their school uniforms defiled but most of all they had gotten their rotten hands on cigarettes. They are seen as stereotypical punks the moment you looked their way.

"Wha'da you want oldie,"