It was now Christmas time. There were lights in every window, red and green and white candles lit everywhere. Giant pine trees in every square. Snow almost constantly drifting down, dusting rooftops and treetops and tops of lamp posts and all kinds of other tops.
Earlier that month, John had been fired from the pet store for refusing to sell a turtle to a three year old and her family. He still did not regret the choice. He just couldn't condemn such a beautiful and innocent animal to the cruel hands of that immature child.
Luckily, Laf had had a position open to give to John. So he now worked at the coffee shop on 33rd street. He and Alex had become very close friends.
On the date of December 24th, Christmas Eve, Laf had decided to go home early, leaving John and Alex alone. Since there were no other customers, John came out from behind the counter and sat next to his blind friend.
"Hey," he said softly.
Alex smiled at him, and for the first time since John had known him, closed his laptop and put it in his bag. "Hi," he murmured, matching John's tone.
John was suddenly aware of how close the were to each other, and his breathing caught in his chest. "I got you something," he said quietly.
Alexander turned his face to John's, seeming to look into his eyes. "I got you something too."
"I'll give you mine first," John said. He handed Alexander the small package.
Feeling around the edges, Alex finally tore it open. "What is it?" He asked.
"It's a Christmas card," John said, "a gift card to this coffee shop, a journal and pens if you ever wanted to write by hand, and a disc containing the latest software for writing."
Alexander smiled widely. "Thank you John! Here's mine." He pulled out a small box, about the size of a cereal bowl, and handed it to John.
John slowly unwrapped the paper. The box underneath it had holes in it. When John opened it up, John had to contain a squeal of joy.
"It's a baby turtle!" John exclaimed with delight. He heard Alex chuckle softly. "What's its name?"
"He doesn't have one," Alex said. "I thought I'd leave the naming up to you."
"Then his name shall be Alex," John said decisively. "For the wonderful person who gave him to me."
Alexander blushed and turned his face away from John, as if he could hide what the latter had already seen.
"Ooo look who's blushing," John teased.
"Not me!" Alex squeaked.
"I think you are!" John grinned and went in to tickle his friend.
Alex squealed and wriggled like a fish, eventually knocking them both to the floor. When they calmed down, Alexander was laying ontop of John. They stayed there like that for a minute.
Then Alexander closed his eyes, expression pained.
"Alex?" John asked. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry John," Alex murmured. "I have to try this..."
John was about to ask exactly what Alex had to try, but then he got his answer.
Alex took a deep breath, and kissed John.
John gasped in surprise. But he found himself unable to pull away. He closed his eyes and reached up and wrapped his arms around Alex.
When Alexander finally pulled away, John still had his eyes closed.
"John," Alexander whispered. "Open your eyes."
So John did, and he gasped. He turned his head in every way possible. He had never seen them before, yet somehow he knew all the names of what he was seeing. Red, green, blue, yellow, orange, brown, purple. It was beautiful.
"Woah," he breathed. He then looked up at Alexander.
Alexander's hair was a dark, dark brown. His irises only a shade lighter. His cheeks were dusted pink with a blush. He smiled down at John.
And John realized something. "You're no longer blind!"
Alex nodded. "I have my sight back."
"Um... Do you mind if I ask who... Who..."
"Who broke my heart?" Alex finished for him. John nodded. If you find your soulmate, you get your color vision. That meant that Alex and John were soulmates. But if you were blind, that meant that you had met someone before who had also given you color vision, but then had broken your heart.
"It was you," Alex said.
"W-what?" John asked.
Alex didn't respond, just sadly looked into John's eyes.
And then it all came back. The memories that the hundreds of medications had erased. Alex. They had known each other as children. They had seen colors as children. They knew that young that they were meant to be together. But then John had messed up. He had said something about the colors. And his father had forced him to tell him who was his soulmate. And when his father had found out it was Alex, he was enraged. He did not want a gay son. So he did everything he could to make John forget Alex and the colors. And he did. And when Alex had found out that John no longer knew him, he lost all his sight, doomed to a world of darkness.
John realized that he was crying. "Alex, I'm so sorry."
"It's alright." Alex was crying too. "I have you now, and that's all that matters."
"I love you," John murmured. "And I will never leave you again. I promise."
Alexander smiled. "Good."
