Making a Change

"Honey, I'm home!"

David sighed as Tyler stumbled into their house drunk, again. He hated it when Tyler came home intoxicated. Mainly because he was scared. His mind always filled with what ifs, so he would always distance himself from Tyler.

Tyler was always tricky to predict when he was drunk. His mood would either be clingy or aggressive. It always depended on how work went. If he got into an argument with his boss, he would drink and come home angry. If his day at work was fine, then he would come home clingy.

However, it didn't matter what mood Tyler would be in when he got home. David was still petrified. He knew that Tyler was stronger than him, so his mood didn't matter. If they got into a fight, Tyler would always win.

"How was work?"
"Fine."
"Good."
"How are you feeling?"
"Okay. What about you?"
"Fine. I just wish you weren't drunk all the time."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing sweetheart."
"That's what I thought."

He walked away from him and headed upstairs. David released the breath he'd been holding in. He was never brave enough to confront him about his problems. He knew how that would go. He'd done it already, and he wouldn't do it again.

Tyler laid down on the bed. He was exhausted from going to the bar. It was the tenth time he was there that week. He wished he could control how he felt when he was drunk. He saw how it affected David, and he wished he could say something to him. He would always try, but before he knew it he would be drunk.

He wasn't as bad as his friends at the bar, though. One was Jonathan who had a cigarette, accompanied by occasional drinking, after finding out he was gay and being kicked out by his parents. He was also a heavy better and gambler. Jonathan hated the bar, but he would only make frequent visits there because of the bartender.

The bartender's name was Evan. He was younger than Tyler and his friends that went to the bar, but that was fine. As Tyler had heard, he'd saved many lives (including Jonathan's at some point) as a bartender. Evan once said the reason he's a bartender was because he had interest in the different people that came in, and their life stories. He was also a good listener. He even tried to give Tyler relationship advice, which he was quite good at despite never being in a relationship.

Jonathan and Evan have great chemistry, despite being a boarder-line alcoholic and a bartender. Tyler liked that about them. They reminded him of how he and David once were before he started drinking again.

He sighed. He constantly wished for the better for them individually and their relationship.

The next morning, David quietly opened the door to Tyler's room.

"Good morning."
"Morning."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just a bad hangover, that's all."
"Do you need any help?"
"Yeah, actually, can you get me some water?"
"Sure thing."
"Thanks babe. I love you."

David was caught off guard by this. He released his breath before smiling at him.

"I love you too honey."

To his surprise, he smiled back. David felt fuzzy inside and kissed him on the forehead before leaving. He went downstairs and grabbed a bottle of water for Tyler.

He saw him rush downstairs and out the door.

"Tyler?"
"I have to go to work, sorry David."
"Right, that's today. At least take this with you."

He handed him the bottle of water.

"Thanks babe."

He kissed David before leaving. Maybe he did care after all, David thought. He smiled with the thought in mind, and walked upstairs.