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t h i r t y - o n e

"Since this is our last session before you leave, I wanted to get you a gift."

Evan took the framed document from Dr. Kirsche and read it, tears forming as he did. He smiled, nonetheless, and hugged her, to which she hugged back.

"Thank you," he whispered. "Not just for the Psalm, but for everything."

"You're very welcome, dear." Dr. Kirsche pulled back and held Evan's face in her hands like a mother would hold her son. "It is my job, after all, but I do enjoy having you as a patient. I can't believe you're going to Germany. Please relax and have fun while you're there. I'm sure it'll help you a lot, especially with Jonathan there. Now go before you're late for your flight."

• · • · •

"FLIGHT AUS 325 FROM PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY TO BERLIN, GERMANY IS NOW BOARDING AT GATE 1. DEPARTURE TIME IS 11:30 A.M.; ARRIVAL TIME IS 8:15 P.M."

The voice over the airport intercom let Evan and Jonathan know that they needed to hurry up with their luggage so they could run to the gate. With nothing but their carry-ons and hand in hand, they made it on time, where the flight attendant took their tickets.

"First class, huh?" he asked rhetorically. "Best way to go when you're flying for nearly eight hours. Enjoy your flight."

Jonathan led Evan through the passageway that connected the plane to the airport and they went instantly to the left, rather than the usual right. To say at the very least, first class was beautiful and Evan was quite excited.

"Here we are," Jonathan declared, disturbing his boyfriend from his thoughts. "Would you like the window seat?"

"Yes!" Without a second thought, the Asian scrambled into the seat and looked out the window, despite the plane being grounded still. Jonathan slid next to him and chuckled at Evan's behavior.

"Have you ever flown before?"

Evan looked back. "Once, when I moved to America."

"You weren't born here?"

"No. Have I never told you this?"

"I don't believe so."

"Oh. Well, I was born in Canada, but after a gang killed my father, my mother and I moved here. She was scared they were going to come for us next. I was four at the time."

"Wow. Why did they kill your dad? If you don't mind me asking, of course."

"It's fine; I don't remember much about him anyway. He was—"

Evan was interrupted when the flight attendant began to speak over the plane's intercom.

"Flight AUS 325 will now be taking the sky. If you haven't already, please store away any bags or loose articles in the overhead bins and find your seats. The pilot will turn on the seatbelt light, indicating that everyone must be seated and seatbelts must be buckled. As soon as we are in the air and the light turns off, bathroom usage is allowed and I will give short instructions on what to do in emergency situations, as is required by law. Thank you."

"I'll finish telling you about it later," Evan whispered. Jonathan nodded and wrapped his arm around his love.

• · • · •

Jonathan couldn't remember falling asleep, but when he woke up, Evan was leaning on him, also asleep. The window showed the sinking sun that made the sky look orange and pink and blue.

A quiet snore from Evan brought Jonathan back from his gaze outside and instead focused it on the sleeping male. He carefully picked up his boyfriend's left hand and soothingly rubbed over the second to last finger, which he kissed after a few seconds.

He couldn't wait until there was a ring wrapped around it.