NOBODY

Chapter 32

Adam stares at himself in the mirror. His mind scans over the past few years of his life. Nothing has made an impact as much as the day he and Chance moved into the small house on Lilac Street.

It began a whole new chapter in his life. 

He and Chance were both raised to follow the Golden Rule, 'Do unto others as you would have others to do unto you'. That is why when they met their very cranky and VERY unfriendly neighbor, Mr. Foust, as hard as it was, they always managed to smile and say 'Hello'. Even went beyond and commented how beautiful his roses were.

A simple kind word. A simple smile. Things that seem so small but can change a person's life forever. Those simple things definitely changed his and Chance's life.

They'd be lying if they said they weren't saddened to hear of the old man's death. Living his life alone after his wife's untimely death. Dying alone with no one to care.

But no one knew of the secrets that the old man kept hidden behind closed doors.

No one knew of 'Nobody'. The beautiful man that was kept chained in the basement like a forgotten dog for his entire life.

Naked, living in filth and his own waste. Having to drink water from a filthy dog dish not fit for any living thing to drink. His only source of food was dog food that was infested with roaches.

Adam wipes a stray tear as he looks into the mirror at the man taking a nap in the bed behind him. He closes his eyes as he remembers his first encounter with Nobody. Tim's first experience at seeing the outside world for the first time. Seeing a woman and a black man for the first time.

Adam chuckles softly. It has definitely been a roller coaster but has been well worth the ride. Tim still had a long way to go. But Adam planned on being with him every step of the way.

He glances around at the clock to see that they had to be at Rob's in an hour for supper.

"Hey, Timmy?" Adam whispers softly as he sits down on the bed next to his sleeping lover. He looks so peaceful that Adam hated to wake him. "Sweetie?"

"Hmmm?" Tim begins to stir and stretches with a yawn.

"You need to wake up and take a shower. We have to be at Rob's in a little bit." Adam says.

"I .. I have to go to ... school?" Tim asks. He had wakened thinking it was morning.

"No, Honey." Adam chuckles. "They invited us to come eat, Remember?"

"It's not mor..ning?" Tim asks as he sits up and looks around with a confused look on his face.

"No, and besides, tomorrow is Sunday. You don't have school." Adam smiles as he runs his fingers through Tim's hair.

"Sunday? Is that a hol..a..day?" Tim asks.

"No, it's a day of the week. Usually meant for rest." Adam says.

"Oh. I haven't learned the days of the week yet." Tim states as he hangs his head.

"You will along with telling time which we're about to run out of if you don't hurry." Adam says with a chuckle.

Adam lays Tim out some clothes while he takes a shower. He then heads into the living room to see if Chance and Austin were ready to go.

"I was beginning to wonder if you had forgot." Chance says with a smile as Adam enters the room.

"I was just letting Tim get most of his nap. He's taking a shower." Adam says as he sits down in the recliner.

"He's not a baby, Adam." Austin laughs.