Love Of My Life

Under Pressure - March 8-9, 2019

Recommended song - Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie

March 8-9, 2019

Simon's POV

He sat at the kitchen table quietly, his hands folded on the table and his eyes moving between his dad and his mom. His mom was on the phone with Sharon, Tyler and Shane's social worker and from what he gathered from the conversation Tyler's mom's arrival was unexpected and illegal.

He was relieved that she would be arrested and brought to court for violating the court order. He frowned thinking of the devastating situations he and his brothers had been put in over the years by their birth parents and even now it still had it's effects. All of his brothers had suffered abuse and neglect, something no body should go through.

He thought of Tyler and it was hurting him to see his older brother so broken. He remembered meeting him nearly 5 years ago when Simon was a scared and sad eleven year old kid. He had been in a few foster homes by that time but he knew as soon as he spent a short amount of time with Tyler that he was going to be ok.

Simon had been severely neglected as a young child. He was left often alone for days at a time in the cold apartment with little food. He remembers coming home from kindergarten and ending up alone for nearly a week before neighbors became auspicious and came to check on him. He was taken away immediately after and placed into foster care. The foster homes weren't horrible but they weren't great either. You existed but were not part of the family.

The brothers rarely talked about their life before Debbie and Peter. It just wasn't something any of them wanted to talk about. They had a family that loved them and that was their focus and life.

His eyes met with Benjamin as he walked into the kitchen. He liked Tyler's boyfriend, it was a relationship that made Tyler so happy and that was what he deserved- to be happy.

"How is Tyler?" Simon asked, feeling like it was a dumb question but he didn't know what to say.

"Jeff and Pancake are with him" Benjamin said, giving him a sad smile.

Debbie was finally done with her phone conversation and asked Benjamin if he wanted a coffee.

"Ok. Well the good news is" she began while passing Benjamin a mug of coffee "Karen was arrested. Sharon was surprised that she was in Vancouver since she knows she is not allowed within city limits." She shook her head angrily "not that it would make a difference to her, she does what she wants anyway." She said with disgust.

"What has Tyler told you about his life before us?" Peter asked Benjamin.

"Nothing. I knew about the adoption because he was so excited that day, otherwise I would not know. He only talks about his family now". Benjamin said looking between Debbie and Peter.

"I'm not surprised. We only know what Sharon told us when he was placed with us. He has never said a word about it in all of the years he's been with us". Peter said sadly shaking his head.

Simon knew how private Tyler was and he had never shared anything with him either.

"I won't tell you what happened. That wouldn't be fair to Tyler" Debbie stated.

"I agree. I have never asked him and if he wants to tell me at some point that's great but I respect his need for privacy" Benjamin said.

"I can just tell you that Karen was supposed to be in jail still but made a deal and was freed earlier. Tyler's father is still in jail and won't be out for another 20 years.

Benjamin's eyes widened. His heart broke for his boyfriend's devastating childhood and he couldn't imagine what he had gone through at a young age.