compare scars

twenty six

"I don't know what to do Charlie." He said their tones hushed. Kyle was asleep in Dan's bed, snoring loudly.

"What do you wanna do?" He asked but Dan just shook his head. He had let Kyle come back to his head and stay for the night.

"I have no clue." He sighed. For the first time in almost six months all he wanted was a mouth full of some alcohol. He didn't even care if it was just cheep beer, he just wanted something to numb his brain.

"He hurt me so bad. But Charlie, I really do love him. But what he did was so bad, I don't know how I could possibly forgive what he did." He watched as Charlie looked at him with pity in his eyes.

"You do what you think is best for you. But Dan, please just think of yourself. You're so fucking selfless." He smiled, patting Dan on he shoulder and sitting on the sofa.

"What's up with his face? Did he get in a fight?" Charlie asked, kicking his feet up on the sofa, motioning for Dan to sit next to him.

"His father." Dan answered quick sitting on the worn down leather sofa.

"I thought he has dementia, that's real damage."

"I have no..."

Dan stopped talking quickly. He could hear thrashing and ragged breathing coming from his bedroom.

"I'm sorry! Stop please!"

Dan quickly ran to the room, watching Kyle thrashed in his bed, getting tangled in the covers.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." Kyle sobbed into the pillow, his crying the only noise in the room.

Without second thought Dan climbed into the bed carefully placing a hand on his bare back.

The longer he looked at it the longer he saw all the faded scars that littered it. Most of them were so faded that he would've never noticed, except some were raised and a light pink.

"Get off me!" Kyle shouted, swatting at Dan's hand, tears streaming down his face.

"Kyle it's Dan! You're okay." He said watching as he stopped trashing.

Kyle then scooted closer to him, resting his head on Dan's stomach.

"Didn't think you'd be here for me." He muttered, his voice muffled.

Kyle moved closer to where he was basically on top of him, his wet tears soaking through Dan's shirt. His hands were holding onto Dan's holding on for dear life. Holding on like if he let go Dan would disappear.

"I needed you." He cried, lifting his head just enough so that he could look Dan in the eyes.

He then watched as Kyle drifted off into sleep, only to start trashing once more.

"Kyle stop!" Dan yelled, worried he would open the stitches.

Finally he grabbed ahold of the sleeping man, listening as his breathing returned to normal. It was amazing to see how the positions had switched so quickly.

"Mmm sorry." Kyle muttered quietly, snuggling himself closer to Dan. For once Kyle felt safe. The steady heartbeat lulled him to sleep, replacing the nightmares with security.

Dan watched as Kyle finally fell back asleep, his  soft breathing the only noise.

He hadn't ever seen this side of him. The soft, vulnerable side of Kyle. The side that cried out for his father to stop, reopening the wounds from his father.

For a little while he laid there, starring up at the ceiling. That was until his eyelids felt heavy, and he accepted sleep like a present.

"Night love." He muttered, snuggling closer to Kyle.