Second Life: A Second Chance

O'er the Arcoiris (I)

The after hours of the compound had just begun with most of the students gone but Caemanor. I stay comfortably seated on this warm chair I call mine while I await for him to finish putting his things down following his fake exit. As soon as he sits somewhere within the student desks, I stand up and walk over to the window of the classroom before closing the blinds with one gentle tug, locking the door soon after. Caemanor now sits across from me, appearing very happy and calm, waiting to receive a hug from me as usual. The time is thirty past three in the afternoon.

An hour or so passes by as we both finish crying for the fifth time on my desk, now utterly exhausted by another intense and sentimental discussion we had about our lives. While he finishes wiping the tears off his face, I approach him again with a warm hug, embracing his warm body before he does the same to I. Throughout it all, I notice his behavior, one of very unusual merit. He behaves so calmly and in such a way that can be considered innocent, innocent in the sense that he has much to learn. He has not seen what true suffering is like but can at least help me cope with mine. There are forces at play he must know in this sad world of ours in order to avoid more suffering.

I look back at his naive face and stare at his eyes with mine as he does the same, now smiling at me once again. I do not know why but this particular feeling of warmth has entered my body, surpassing my thinking of him, not leaving me be even after our embracing exchanges. This warmth of mine, is not typically the type of feeling I have really ever experienced with another male before nor has an experience like this existed with one of such strong companionship like the one I have with Caemanor. The deep yet soothing warm feeling from the hug permeates throughout my body, engulfing me in a gentle and sweet manner, lowering my defenses almost entirely. I stand up, still feeling warm, hold up two used damp brown cloths before asking a question no Kurakain male has casually been asked. 

"So, how do you feel about Training coming up?" I ask while wringing the water away from the used cloths to the trash box, no longer heavily damp as it once was when I first held them.

Caemanor responds to my question, a bit pessimistically if I may add. 

"I'm not sure what to feel. I told David to wait for me after Training when he was still alive, where we would both run away from this Nation and live happily ever after. We had made detailed plans to escape following my return from Training but none of it matters now that he is gone."

Feeling compassionate, I speak up and reassure him of what to do further in life. 

"Now don't say that, you've got me as your friend remember? I am here for you always Caemanor, don't forget that." 

"Thanks," he says, before continuing on with an inevitable fact that brings chills down my spine. 

"-But I am going away no matter what and I'll be gone for an entire three months. Wherever I am placed following my daylong return will take me somewhere else and not here." 

His eyes twinkle in am almost sad-like manner before mentioning the inevitability of the truth. 

"I may or may not see you again after I leave Adam." 

Grabbing hold of both his shoulders, I refute his words by mentioning a positive aspect in all this inevitable separation. 

"Caemanor look, think of leaving as something good for you rather than bad. You will find something to live for when you leave and it won't necessarily be escape but when you do, never forget about me, Adam, your friend. I deserve a place in your heart at least until you find a new friend when you are away," I say with a sad smile on my face. 

"Ok," he whispers softly to me, before giving me a soft hug and saying goodbye.