Blue Flower

Chapter 22

-Andrew-

I quietly took my steps down the hallway. Classes were going on in each and every classroom that I passed by. Chester said he saw Michael sitting on a bench not so far away from here. He said my brother wanted to talk to me. I didn’t know if it was true, so I had to confirm it now.

My mind brought me back to the years I’ve spent with Michael when I was young. Ever since I met him, I knew in myself that I had a brother to lean on every time I’m down. He had a happy and positive disposition in life. He was an inspiration to me, the person who never failed to give advices and the one who never judges after all the wrongs that were done. I missed him, I could say, but the fact that he left me without any explanation still hurt me.

Finally I arrived at the bench. Chester was right in the first place. Michael was waiting for me. He sat on that bench quietly, looking at the cemented ground and seemed to stare at something available on his own sight. I stopped for a while and looked at him, thinking how he had grown since he left our house ten years ago.

I was afraid to take a step closer. Fear had conquered me, while guilt knocked on my heart for being so cold to him. He didn’t move a bit as I approached him and took that empty seat beside him.

“You want to talk to me?” I said, being the first one to break the silence.

“Yeah. Can you give me some time?” he answered.

I didn’t answer, and suddenly it meant a yes for him.

“I’m sorry, Andrew. I’m sorry if I left you alone when you needed me, I know I owe you an explanation, but if I’ll tell you everything, you’ll hate me even more.”

“Just tell me why you leaved me. Don’t you know how much I was so alone without you?” I cried, letting the tears run down my face. I wanted to hear all the things he would say, but it seemed that we were both unprepared for this.

“Promise me you won’t get angry.” he said. I saw tears building up on the corners of his eyes. He fixed his thoughts first before speaking to me.

“I will.” I agreed and nodded.

“It’s because Dad found out I’m gay.”

I stared at him after that answer came out of his mouth. It was unbelievable. He was a man. I looked at him as a real man, for he was my brother. I didn’t know how that could be.

“You’re gay?”

“That’s the one thing I can’t say to you. When Dad forced me to leave the house, I didn’t bother to talk to you, because you’re just a kid, and you won’t understand everything.”

I cried even more. Y tears wouldn’t stop from falling upon hearing what I have been dying to hear. Michael put a hand on my shoulder as we both cried.

“I’m sorry, Andrew. Please forgive me.” he said for the last time and he stood up.

While he slowly walked away from me, I buried my face in my palms and cried harder.