Neil

Chapter 14: Jake

They sat down in Jake's antique dining room. Jake hadn't slept a wink. It can only be because he blamed himself for what happened. If he hadn't have gone, neither would Neil. Jake's boyfriend had dies 2 years previously, and he had feelings for Neil. He knew they could never have been. But he didn't mind.

"Someone has to take the blame Neil."

"I will." Neil had already decided his fate.

"No you won't Neil. I won't let you. The police are coming here in a few minutes, to pick me up. I told them I'd killed the entire Redtown family, and I'd destroyed that father's body. I'll plead guilty and face the death penalty."

Neil couldn't breathe. After all he'd done, this man would still die for him. he couldn't understand why, as subconsciously h knew that if Jake had done all this, he would never take the blame.

"Please don't. Or at least explain why."

Jake smiled at Neil.

"Because you are all I have left, and perhaps I'm selfish, but I don't wanna be alone." The lie echoed in Jake's head. Nobody could ever know. Perhaps he'd tell him in hell, if God won't let him in heaven because of who he loves. A gay man in love with a murderer. What a story to tell the devil.

"And what if I also plead guilty?"

Jake hadn't particularly thought this through, so it was time to improvise.

"Don't. Because then I'll be alone, and also you'll waste your life. You still have a chance. I booked you a last minute flight to New York. Change your name to Neil Brown, and make a new life. After he died two years ago, I basically died with him, and I'm begging you, don't do what I did. Live Neil, for heavens sake. If not for me, for Tilly. She still loves you. She'd never not love you. But your not ready to join her." Jake slid the tickets for the flight across the table to Neil.

"Ok." Neil could say no more. "I'll go now I suppose, can I take some of your clothes? I don't wanna go back in that house." Jake nodded.

Jake savoured his last look at Neil.