The Tale's Willow

The Accident

Adam had remained at home. He was wanting to play one of his video games instead of going out to a bar with the guys. A pizza had already been called in, his phone was on the living room table, and he had a glass of sweet tea. He was ready to start his quiet night at home. His long-time boyfriend bounded down the stairs and came to a stop behind the couch.

"I love you, Angel Face." The lightly bearded man's deep voice resonated in Adam's ear.

Little did he know that was the last time he'd ever hear those words.

"I love you, my sexy southern boy." Adam chuckled as his lover kissed his cheek.

"Not sure exactly when I'll be back. If I'm too late, I'll call, ok? Don't worry about staying up for me although you'll probably still be up playing games by the time I get back." He heard that deep laugh say as he gathered his keys and phone.

"Most likely. Have a good time and tell everyone I said hello!" Adam smiled at his lover.

"Sure you don't want to go? Last chance?" He asked.

"I'm sure baby. You go and have a good time. I'll see you when you get back." Adam hugged his lover before sitting back down on the couch.

Adam got into his games and lost track of time. His food came, he ate, then he continued playing games. Around 11pm, he decided to call it a night. 'It's already well past my bedtime!' he chuckled as he threw his trash away and turned everything off. He locked the door before heading upstairs to their shared bedroom. His lover's lingering cologne could still be smelt, and he smiled to himself. 'I love his scent.' he sighed happily as he got himself situated in bed.

The ringing of the phone woke him up. Figuring it was his boyfriend, he didn't even bother to look at the caller ID. He mumbled a sleepy greeting then bolted up in bed. He answered a few questions, then frantically jumped out of bed. He put his tennis shoes on, slipped into a t-shirt, then rushed downstairs. His phone was still in his hand as he tried to remember where he'd left his truck keys.

Hot tears stung his eyes as he did his best to drive the speed limit. The entire drive, he kept praying. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel. When the blue and red flashing lights hit his eyes, his breath caught in his throat. One officer instructed him to pull over to the side of the road. It was dark and the sound of thunder clasping made him jump. He gave his information to another officer who kept glancing up at him with pity.

There were firetrucks and an ambulance already there. People were walking around. Adam heard someone mention "The Jaws of Life". His breath caught once more. His body began to shake. Walking with the officer, he barely heard a word the uniformed man was telling him. They approached the wreckage and Adam froze. His eyes darted this way and that. He looked for any signs his beloved was well.

"Mr. Rupp? Mr. Rupp, are you ok?" He heard someone to his right, or maybe it was his left, ask, "Here, sit down on the curb. You look a little woozy."

"It...it...where is he? Is he ok?" Adam stuttered, staring at the firemen and paramedics as they worked the scene.

"Mr. Rupp. . ." The officer started as some paramedics began wheeling a sheet-covered body to the coroner's van that he hadn't even noticed when he'd arrived.

The tears he had been fighting began to fall even though he couldn't see who was really under the sheet.

"Sir, we need you to identify one of the bodies. Can you do that for me?" The officer asked.

Adam nodded his head as the tears fell unceremoniously down his face. It was his truck all mangled up. He knew that truck. The officer helped him up off the ground. Adam stumbled a bit, still feeling woozy about what all he'd already seen. The coroner hadn't loaded the body into the van just yet.

"Mr. Rupp, remember this was a bad accident. If you can't identify him, we'll have to use fingerprints and dental records." The officer told him, "Take your time. Let me know when you're ready."

Adam reached out with his right hand then jerked it back. He desperately wanted to know and at the same time didn't want to know who was under that sheet. His heart was in a race with his pulse while his mind was in a jumbled cube of emotions and memories. Wiping his face, he finally nodded to the officer. He watched, eyes fixed to where the person's face would be, while the officer gently pulled the sheet back.

As soon as his eyes looked upon him, Adam threw himself onto the corpse sobbing. His life was gone.

"Mr. Rupp, I'm so sorry for your loss. We can have someone drive you home. We'll be in touch." The officer said as he motioned a junior officer over to where they stood.

All Adam could do was sob. The young officer asked for directions to his house so he could drive the distraught man home. Adam thanked the officer before briskly walking into their shared home. Shutting the door, he slid down to the floor crying. His lover was gone. His partner. His boyfriend. His companion. As he cried, his mind flooded with the events of the evening. How they'd cooked dinner together. Their last supper together. Adam cleaning the kitchen while he got ready for the night out.

Perhaps if Adam had gone with him or if he had insisted he stay home he would still have his sexy southern boy. After a while, he picked himself up off the floor and walked upstairs to their bedroom. Each step felt as if he had cinder blocks tied to his feet. He pushed open the door to their bedroom. Adam looked at the bed. The same bed they made love nightly. Sometimes several times a day. Where they would comfort one another while they were sick.

He flung himself onto his lover's side of the bed and wept again.

"I love you, Timmy." Adam cried, "I love you so much..."

A/N: Vote, comment, add to your library. And sorry for killing Timmy :'(