𝚂𝚊𝚏𝚎

Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ １

It has been almost six months.

It was early spring.

Green grass sparkling due to the early dew.

There was a light breeze.

Fresh air.

Stuart went out on his bike early.

It was calming for him.

Being in the quiet neighborhood.

Just riding around.

The gentle rum sound of his tires on the sidewalk.

He has been going out early for about a month.

Sometimes he would ride down to a close café.

Get a hot chocolate.

Read a book that was already there for anyone to read.

Then go back home before anyone woke up in his house.

The white noise of his tires he got used to,

but he still heard it.

Calming.

He stopped at the edge of the sidewalk.

Looked both ways.

A single car was coming.

He waited.

He sighed,

relaxed.

"Stuart?"

His whole body went numb.

He quickly turned his head to where the voice was.

He saw him.

Murdoc.

In a loose hoodie.

Black jeans.

Ripped jeans he must add.

Murdoc's head was slightly cocked.

A small smile of disbelief.

Stuart tried to breathe out.

But nothing came out.

He swung his other leg off of his bike.

Hurried to put the bike on the ground.

And ran.

He ran towards Murdoc.

Once he reached him, he clung onto him.

Murdoc wrapped his arms around him firmly.

Stuart finally breathed.

He also started to cry.

"Stuart." Murdoc said softly.

More like he was affirming it was him.

They held each other for such a long time.

Some cars passed.

Murdoc finally loosened his grip.

Stuart's arms dropped.

They looked at each other closely for the first time in six months.

Murdoc wanted to touch his face.

"I thought I'd never see you again." Stuart said slowly.

It was cheesy,

but true.

He put his head against Murdoc's chest.

"Me either..." Murdoc replied.

He raised his hand up to slowly play with Stuart's hair.