Love Of Mine

It's raining outside. The lights of the small town are blurred by the falling water, but the illuminated neon signs still stand out despite not being readable. It is quite beautiful to look at. I could probably sit here for hours.

“It’s quite a sight isn’t it?” I ask my friend, sitting in the bed beside me. He’s quiet, doesn’t even blink or make any sign that he heard me, but I know he has. I take his hand and look back out the window. I smile, thinking about all the times we spent at the restaurant just across the street. Its where I first met him after all. He was sitting at the bar when I entered. I made a beeline straight for his skinny little body, and plopped myself down beside him and began the first of many long conversations about seemingly dull daily occurrences. I smile again and out of the corner of my eye I see a small tug at the corner of his mouth and know he is probably reliving some memories of his own.

“You were…a complete dork.” He whispers, not even making eye contact with me, but knowing he is reliving the same moment I am is enough that he doesn’t have to. I nod and continue looking out the window.

“Do you remember when I first had you over at my house? You were too afraid to even sit on my couch without permission. I had to keep telling you that you didn’t need to ask me such things. Mi casa es su casa. I kept saying it over and over again. You’re so thick headed sometimes.” His fingers nudge mine and I gently intertwine them with his, he squeezes softly, telling me that he does remember that. “And the time we chased that dog for three hours before you finally admitted it was a lost cause?”

“Stupid dog.” He mutters and I chuckle softly in agreement. The rain starts falling harder outside, the window now covered in sheets of water as it rushes down the outside of the building. “You were afraid of holding my hand before. You…thought you were squeezing too hard.” My friend coughs and then takes a slightly labored breath. Its been wearing him down for hours. The rain brings beauty outside but suffering to the person I care for most. His sideways glance is enough to assure me he isn’t actually suffering as much as I think.

“Do you remember when-“ My friend begins but then the coughs stack one on top of the other and his hand squeezes mine tightly. I wait patiently until the room grows quiet once again, except for the humming and beeping I’ve grown used to. I begin again. “Do you remember when we-“

“Sing.”

“What?”

“Sing for me. Like you used to.” He whispers and I feel the strength of his hand weaken slightly. I nod and smile softly, still holding his hand tightly.

“What do you want me to sing to you?” He doesn’t meet my gaze still, but I can tell by the way his eyes roam the ceiling that he’s thinking hard.

“You remember don’t you? The one I told you I wanted you to sing.” Nodding again, I take a few moments to situate our bodies so I am gently spooning him, my head resting on his shoulder, lips near his neck. His breathing slows to a whisper and his eyelids are already closed, black hair tousled on the pristine white pillow.

“I remember.”

“Love of mine

Someday you will die

But I'll be close behind

I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white

Just our hands clasped so tight

Waiting for the hint of the spark



If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark



In catholic school, as vicious as Roman rule

I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black

And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son fear is the heart of love"

So I never went back



If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark



You and me

Have seen everything to see

From Bangkok to Calgary

And the soles of your shoes

Are all worn down, the time for sleep is now

But it's nothing to cry about 'cause we'll hold each other soon

In the blackest of rooms



If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark

And I'll follow you into the dark.”

The beeping is now a loud drone. My friend, my life, my love is sleeping peacefully beside me. His chest is still and his grasp is loose. I squeeze his hand again while my other slips into my pocket to retrieve my gift to him. The silver bands glint softly as I slowly slip one on to his finger and place its twin upon my own.

“I’m forever yours. I have one last gift for us to share.” My hand returns to my pocket and slowly pulls out a little vial, which I quickly bring to my lips and without hesitation drink down, letting the vial slip from my hand and on to the floor with a small shatter. I press my lips to his cheek and hold him closely to my body. I quickly grow weary and let my eyes slip close just as the door swings open to a dozen frightened faces. My lips move once more.

“And I’ll follow you into the dark.”

[Outside P.O.V.]

There are funerals today. Two side by side. A mass of men and women surround the identical coffins, tears run down cheeks as family members remember their loved ones. The deceased recently made headlines due to the way they were found, spooning in a hospital bed, where one had been lying for weeks due to lung cancer with the other sitting by his side. Two deaths. One from cancer and the other from self inflicted cyanide poisoning. The groups part hours later, leaving the two black coffins sitting side by side in the rain as they wait to be lowered into the ground. The silver nameplates reveal the couple’s names. Gerard and Frank Iero-Way. Wed after death. Both plates shared the same line underneath their names.

“I’ll follow you into the dark.”