LIFE WE LIVE (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 3

Tim rolls his chair into the middle of his bedroom and stops. He slowly looks around the room. Nothing has been changed since Chris left. Pictures of the couple adorn the wall and on the dresser.

He rolls over next to the bed. He gently runs his hand along his husband's side of the bed. The very place Chris took his last breath.

Could Adam be right? Is Chris here? After all, Adam does have a special gift. Or could it be his mind just trying to ease the pain of losing his brother?

Tim reaches and takes Chris's pillow and holds it close to his chest.

"Chris?" Tim whispers. "Are you here? Adam said that he feels your presence. I hope he's right and I hope your spirit gets strong enough to interact with me. I miss you so much."

He hangs his head and hugs the pillow tighter. He slowly raises his head as he thinks he feels a light touch on the back of his head.

A wave of disappointment crashes down on him as he looks up and sees the air conditioning vent in the ceiling.

Laying the pillow back down on the bed, he turns around and heads back to the living room.

"Chance? Is the air conditioner on?" Tim asks.

"Not that I know of. Why?" Chance answers, pulling his attention away from the movie that he and Austin were watching.

"I.. Uh, I'm just a little cold." Tim says as he rubs his arms.

"Let me check. It shouldn't be on." Chance says as he gets up to check the thermostat. "Nope. It's off."

"Oh. Okay." Tim nods. Could that touch have been from his husband? "Where's Adam?"

"He's upstairs in his and Avi's room playing a game, I think." Austin answers, his eyes never leaving the movie. 

"Do you need help with something, Cuz?" Chance asks.

"No, I, uh, I was just wanting to talk to him about something." Tim says slightly shaking his head.

Chance knew that Tim and Adam have always been close but since Chris's death, their bond had gotten stronger. They were each other's support.

"I'll get him for you." Chance says as he pauses the movie.

"Are you okay?" Austin asks when he notices that Tim had a somewhat bewildered look on his face.

"What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Tim nods as he runs a hand through his hair.

"You just look a little confused." Austin says.

Tim answers by shaking his head and looking toward the window.

"Whatcha need, Timmy?" Adam asks as he and Chance come into the room.

"Uh... can I talk to you for a minute?" Tim asks.

"Yeah, sure." Adam nods and Tim turns heading back to his bedroom.

"Close the door." Tim says softly as he turns his chair to face his brother-in-law.

"What do you need... to talk... about?" Adam says as his eyes scan the room.

"Adam, I think, I'm not positive, but I think Chris might have touched me." Tim says, his eyes wide as he stares at the blond.

"What? Are you serious?" Adam says as he slowly sits down on the bed.

"I was in here alone just kinda talking to him. Telling him that I missed. I had his pillow." Tim says as he reaches for Chris's pillow. "It still smells like him. I hugged it and lowered my head to smell it and I felt something touch the back of my head. I looked up and seen the air vent so I thought it might have just been the air turning on. I asked Chance if the air conditioner was turned on and it wasn't."