dwell on it. He was determined to look forward, not backward.
Graham regarded the man, a smile planted firmly on his lips. “I had wondered why there was nothing with my name on it in that pile ‘o presents.”
“I have something for you, too,” Rudy said.
Rudy’s smile was luminous, but it quickly faded and the man’s throat shifted hard as if he were swallowing a lump. He reached to the side and withdrew an envelope from his pocket. Offering it to Graham, he attempted a reassuring look, but failed. Graham accepted it and slid out a piece of thick parchment. He ran his eyes over the official looking document, his brows pulling down with every word.
“I know some of the language might be… confusing, but it basically says I have permission to offer you my light-well . We must have permission from the council to use the gift and to avoid problems down the road. Grandfather petitioned the council for permission ahead of time. So this is my gift to you, Graham Miller.”
Biting his lip, Graham read through the letter again, the language very lawyer-like. Rudy was offering him his most precious possession? Can I become like him? He had thought about it and could see himself running around as a caribou.
Will I have to watch everyone age and die around me?
That thought gave him pause and he swallowed the excitement of being with Rudy for many, many years. Folding the parchment, he slid it back into the envelope. His gaze was pointed at Rudy, but he focused on the dark background behind the man. “It means a lot that you think I’m worthy to receive your gift, but I don’t know if I can accept it.”
Graham was sure he’d just witness a pile up on the freeway as Rudy’s face fell. Rudy shuttered, his eyes glazing as he accepted the letter with shaky hands. He proceeded to look at the envelope as if he didn’t recognize it and Graham felt like shit, but he had to be honest.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but… I can’t watch everyone die around me. It would be too hard. And I can’t stay human and be with you. I won’t let you watch me get old and die, either. I want you to be with someone like you, someone that is your equal and can meet your needs. I—” his voice cracked as he realized they were breaking up. “I’m sorry, Rudy.”
The man nodded and stuck the envelope back into his pocket. “I understand.”
Graham wanted to say so much more than that, but his brain turned to mush and he was afraid his words would further drive the pain deeper into Rudy’s heart. The man was absolutely crushed and Graham’s first instinct was to hold him close, but— we just broke up. The realization was startling.
“It’s getting late, so I think I’m going to head out. Goodnight, Graham,” he rasped as if he were suffering from a sore throat.
Staring blankly at the man’s back, he could hardly breathe as he watched Rudy walk toward the house… and out of his life.
Chapter Eleven
Two days later…
Rudy heard his mother come into his bedroom, her soft footfalls and the steady thump of her heart comforting. He felt the mattress dip next to him, and her heat soaked through the blankets shielding him from the rest of the world. She didn’t say anything for a long while and he wanted to seek her out, but he couldn’t find the strength to move. He sniffled, his sinuses clogged with unshed tears.
A gentle pressure stroked his back. “I’m sorry, baby.”
He managed to push the blanket off his face and met his mother’s kind, blue eyes. Her hand went through his hair, the touch desperately needed. “I don’t know how to deal with this.”
“Whether human or Elementir, first love is always the hardest,” she said, scooting a little closer. “Did you bond?”
Bond. It hurt to hear that word. He had wanted so badly to bond his heart with Graham. On some level he had convinced himself they would live a happy and long life together, frolicking under the moonlight and building snowmen
Graham regarded the man, a smile planted firmly on his lips. “I had wondered why there was nothing with my name on it in that pile ‘o presents.”
“I have something for you, too,” Rudy said.
Rudy’s smile was luminous, but it quickly faded and the man’s throat shifted hard as if he were swallowing a lump. He reached to the side and withdrew an envelope from his pocket. Offering it to Graham, he attempted a reassuring look, but failed. Graham accepted it and slid out a piece of thick parchment. He ran his eyes over the official looking document, his brows pulling down with every word.
“I know some of the language might be… confusing, but it basically says I have permission to offer you my light-well . We must have permission from the council to use the gift and to avoid problems down the road. Grandfather petitioned the council for permission ahead of time. So this is my gift to you, Graham Miller.”
Biting his lip, Graham read through the letter again, the language very lawyer-like. Rudy was offering him his most precious possession? Can I become like him? He had thought about it and could see himself running around as a caribou.
Will I have to watch everyone age and die around me?
That thought gave him pause and he swallowed the excitement of being with Rudy for many, many years. Folding the parchment, he slid it back into the envelope. His gaze was pointed at Rudy, but he focused on the dark background behind the man. “It means a lot that you think I’m worthy to receive your gift, but I don’t know if I can accept it.”
Graham was sure he’d just witness a pile up on the freeway as Rudy’s face fell. Rudy shuttered, his eyes glazing as he accepted the letter with shaky hands. He proceeded to look at the envelope as if he didn’t recognize it and Graham felt like shit, but he had to be honest.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but… I can’t watch everyone die around me. It would be too hard. And I can’t stay human and be with you. I won’t let you watch me get old and die, either. I want you to be with someone like you, someone that is your equal and can meet your needs. I—” his voice cracked as he realized they were breaking up. “I’m sorry, Rudy.”
The man nodded and stuck the envelope back into his pocket. “I understand.”
Graham wanted to say so much more than that, but his brain turned to mush and he was afraid his words would further drive the pain deeper into Rudy’s heart. The man was absolutely crushed and Graham’s first instinct was to hold him close, but— we just broke up. The realization was startling.
“It’s getting late, so I think I’m going to head out. Goodnight, Graham,” he rasped as if he were suffering from a sore throat.
Staring blankly at the man’s back, he could hardly breathe as he watched Rudy walk toward the house… and out of his life.
Chapter Eleven
Two days later…
Rudy heard his mother come into his bedroom, her soft footfalls and the steady thump of her heart comforting. He felt the mattress dip next to him, and her heat soaked through the blankets shielding him from the rest of the world. She didn’t say anything for a long while and he wanted to seek her out, but he couldn’t find the strength to move. He sniffled, his sinuses clogged with unshed tears.
A gentle pressure stroked his back. “I’m sorry, baby.”
He managed to push the blanket off his face and met his mother’s kind, blue eyes. Her hand went through his hair, the touch desperately needed. “I don’t know how to deal with this.”
“Whether human or Elementir, first love is always the hardest,” she said, scooting a little closer. “Did you bond?”
Bond. It hurt to hear that word. He had wanted so badly to bond his heart with Graham. On some level he had convinced himself they would live a happy and long life together, frolicking under the moonlight and building snowmen
Similar Books
