Second chapter of ‘Healing’. I’m glad the first chapter went over as good as it did, or else I’d probably be screwed. A year has passed since the last chapter, so, Kevin is nineteen and Ben is eighteen.

Chapter Two

You’re getting better.

Your skin is recovering any lost color, and you’ve gained back most of the weight you lost.

You still don’t talk, but you seem to be trying to pay attention and focus on things.

I started playing the piano some time ago. Gwen told me you use to like it, and I heard somewhere that music was good therapy for certain people. So, anytime I’m pretty sure I have your attention, I start playing.

You respond really well. I’ve even seen you smile.

You’ve been living with me for almost eight months now. It was your parents idea; they said you responded better to me than anyone.

They were absolutely delighted during one visit, when I was playing the piano and you smiled; your mom was crying.

It’s a few days before Christmas now. You put the Christmas tree up by yourself. It surprised me to come home and find the tree put up, decorated to the max, star on top and everything.

You were sitting on my run down couch, watching me, seemingly waiting for my approval. I’ll never forget the bright smile you gave me when I said the tree was beautiful and that you had done a good job. It reminded me so much of how you used to be, that I just took you into my arms and started crying. I don’t know if you understood or not, but you hugged me back and started crying too.

A few days after that, you came and sat beside me as I played the piano. You had started doing this a lot, so it didn’t surprise me. But then I stopped, my heart stopped, everything stopped; I swore I heard your voice.

I looked at you, but you were looking straight ahead and certainly not talking. So, I shook my head and started playing again.

But there it was again, definitely your voice. It was so soft and strained that I could hardly hear your voice over the piano.

You were singing. You were singing the words to the song.

I was so excited.

You had never been the greatest singer in the world, but it was your voice, something I hadn’t heard in a long time.

My vision started going blurry, and I realized I was crying when I felt the wet tears fall down my cheeks.

“Kevin...”

My head jerked up, and I looked at you.

You were looking at me, eyes more focused than I had seen in a long time.

Your lips were parted, moving slightly. You were trying to say something. I turned to you completely.

“What is it Ben? What do you want to say?”

You try to say something, but all that comes out is a soft exhalation of air.

You try again, obviously frustrated by your voices lack of cooperation, but again nothing but air comes out.

“It’s okay Ben, don’t force yourself.”

I really wanted to hear you say more, something other than just my name, but there was no need to rush things; you’ll speak when you’re ready.

You shake your head, not wanting to give up when you were so close, and raised your hands to gently cup my face. I raise my hands and hold yours there; it had been so long since I had felt your touch this way.

“Kevin...”

I know what I heard this time; you were definitely saying my name.

Your voice was soft, and hoarse, strained after years of disuse.

“Ben...”

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes again; hearing your voice has made me happier than I’ve been in a long time.

One of your hands slips from under mine and moves back, threading your fingers in my long hair. You gently pull me forward a little and you stretch up, gently pressing your lips to mine.

The kiss is sweet and chaste, and extremely brief; you’re already pulling back before I can even comprehend what happened. It reminds me of our first kiss.

You’re still very close to me, our chests touching, and our lips are centimeters apart. You kiss me again, this one longer and deeper.

I lower my arms and wrap them around your waist, and you part your lips in invitation; I don’t waste the chance I’ve been given and immediately thrust my tongue in your mouth. You gasp softly in surprise but you respond happily; it’s been so long since we’ve been so physical with each other that this sudden burst of passion is nearly overwhelming for both of us.

You pull away again, breathing hard. Your green eyes are incredibly clear, more like the acid green jewels I loved to look at than they had been in a long time.

“Kevin... thank you...”

You smile brightly before burying your face in my shirt.

I can’t do anything except hold you close, my heart pounding and close to tears for the third time today.

I don’t know what you’re thanking me for, but I’m the one who should be thankful. For a brief moment in time, you were my old Ben. I hold you tighter, and wish desperately for this moment to last forever.

TBC...

Well, that was the second chapter of ‘Healing’. It took me a while to write it, because I’ve been kind of busy this year. I’m starting college when summer ends, although it’ll probably be well into my fall semester before I can get this up, because I have no laptop and no internet.