What was it that brought them together, to be united in this perfect love?
"Johnny," Cary said simply with no trace of emotion. His aquamarine globes complimented hisflaxen mane, belying his baleful heart. He was dressed in his own unique fashion, a style unlike that of anyone else Johnny knew. He was lily-white, tinted with khaki, and sturdily built. An elaborate tattoo snaked its way around his visible skin. As Johnny drew nearer, he caught a note of Cary's familiar reek of tavern ale. He smiled to himself. It always reminded him of the time they shared.
"Oh, Cary! You came!" Johnny said breathlessly, reaching out to take him into an embrace. Cary took a half-step back, enough to remind him that he still preferred some distance. Johnny humored him and dropped his arms without comment, still smiling. With that, they began to walk along the beach.
"Cary," Johnny intoned, "the sea is beautiful, isn't it? It's so ocean-colored and glittering." He glanced toward Cary, who was unresponsive. "U-um... I'm really glad we can spend time together today. It's so lovely and warm."
"I don't care about the weather," Cary snapped.
Johnny jumped a bit and then fell silent, barely whispering, "Sorry."
Almost instantly, guilt flashed across Cary's face, but just as quickly his cold facade returned to hide it. He looked at him, the loveliness of his copper locks, the hint of sadness in his innocent crystals, and his beauty pierced Cary's heart with shame. Who was he, after all, to hurt such a creature? Cary was to him as a devil to an angel. He summoned the strength to confess, "No." Johnny looked up at him with surprise. "Don't be... never mind." I should be the one who's sorry, Cary thought to himself, but he couldn't work up the courage to say it.
Gently, Johnny brought his hand toward his, whispering, "It's okay. Don't... don't worry for me."For a few moments they passed through another chilly silence. "Johnny," Cary murmured at last. "I like these dates."
"Do you really?" Johnny piped hopefully.
He was burdened by the unexplainable. Torn between this and country. Not only that, he was a freak. And yet still Johnny looked at him with such adoration. Cary was undeserving. "Yes," he muttered. "I like spending time with you." Johnny beamed such a happy smile at him that he couldn't help but look away. "I admit it, all right? ... I hate it when you're sad."
Johnny slipped his fingers into Cary's curled hand and whispered, "I'm not so sad. I wish I could make you less sad. You're really hurting inside, I can feel it."
Cary accepted his touch and held his hand in his, saying nothing.
After a few moments, they found themselves walking down the beach again. It seemed to Johnny that something had been bothering Cary for the last few hours -- or maybe longer than that. Cary's hollow hardened sapphire orbs were cast down and away, focused upon nothing in particular.
Johnny really didn't want him to be troubled. He felt his pain as if it were his own. Tilting hishead, he murmured, "Cary... what's wrong?"
"Johnny... it's, just..."
Johnny slipped both of his hands into his, gazing into Cary's dark pools. "Cary... I'll listen."
Cary took a deep breath and gazed back into Johnny's cinnamon globes with a look full ofmournful sadness, whispering, "I don't know if I can put it into words. I... lately... it might not even be just lately.... It's nothing. It's nothing! Johnny, I... it burns... there's nothing that helps. Except that... sometimes, I feel a bit better when you're by my side...."
Johnny listened quietly, pain flashing across his features as Cary recounted his sorrows. At last, he finished, and a moment of silence passed between them.
Cary seemed so despairing and unsure. Johnny brought his head against his chest in reassurance, murmuring, "Cary... I... I don't know what it's like, to live with your incomprehensible secret... but... I'm sorry, Cary. I wish... I wish I could help." Cary's eyes began to redden, and he abruptly pulled Johnny into a fierce embrace. Johnny's orbs widened at first, but then he too felt overwhelmed by emotion and succumbed to the warmth of Cary's touch.
"You," Cary whispered, his breath hot on Johnny's ear. "As long as you're here, I... I can make it." They held each other as tears trickled down cheeks and dripped onto the shifting sands to be carried away into the sea. With time and soothing embraces, their pain dissipated into a mist swept out by the ocean breeze and into the setting sun.
---
They basked in each other's quiet companionship for a few moments.
---
"Mm. Sunset."
Johnny lifted his head at Cary's words to behold the dying sun's peach radiance. "How beautiful."
After a moment of silence, Cary said quietly and seriously, "It seems fate has been kind to me... just this once."
Johnny clasped Cary's soft hand and murmured in response, "A love this true must be fated to be."
"Hmm," Cary said only. But when Johnny looked at him, he saw a glimmer of hope in his aching globes.
Johnny sighed with contentment and brought Cary closer. He gazed at the beautiful flaxen rays of the falling sun, thinking about everything that had transpired on this day and all that would pass between them.
"I love you, Cary."
"I love you too, Johnny."
Their lips met, and auburn strands met lemon-colored ones, aflame in the dying light. The sand was their witness and the rumbling ocean their approving audience, and Cary, his eternally faithful lover. Johnny thought to himself that nothing could be more perfect in the world.
