Brotherhood by Zachary Gibson (snow like ashes txt) 📖

a bunch of giggling. Then there were names…Whore, Orphan, Bitch, Bastard, Void…then there was Zero. This one hurt most. It came from the one person I fell in love with. We got really close, and then out of nowhere…Zero.” Rubbing again.
He cringed. “After that, it just spread around like a disease. Everyone called me Zero. And they ALL knew what it meant…” That was it. That was his story. Zero’s story. It hurt so much to say it all, more than he could ever imagined. He buried his face in the boy’s chest and began to cry as hard as he could. The boy simply responded by rubbing his back and stroking his hair.
“Sorry,” Zero said, as he sat back a few minutes later. He wiped his eyes. “Wow…I really soaked your shirt.”
“Huh? Oh, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Feel better?”
“Yeah. Lots actually. Thanks. Hey, where’s your family?”
“I have them, but I don’t. I mean they’re alive, somewhere. But I don’t care for them, and they don’t care for me. Never did. When I left, I left for good. Pretty much raised myself…” A look of loneliness crossed his face.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m used to not having family. I imagine it was harder for you having them and then losing them.”
“Not as bad as being taunted by their physical presence without the emotional one.”
“Eh, who knows?” They both just sat there, silent, warm, safe in their moment of haven. The terror of years temporarily lifted, a long-lasting wound tended for a while, a void filled just ever-so-slightly.
“I have an idea!” they both cried at the same time!
“You first,” said Zero.
“Why don’t…we be family?”
“Huh? Explain.”
“I mean, be like…you know, brothers?”
‘A brother? He never had a sibling even as a child. This was new. A new brother…a new family…’ Fear crossed his face.
The boy’s face reflected his fear, though not for the same reasons. ‘But could I stand that? Being brothers with a person I just fell smack down on my face for? I guess I gotta try now.’
“Y…Yeah…”
“What?”
“Let’s do it! Brothers, I mean!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! I’ve never had a sibling, and it would be nice to have a family again.”
“It really would.”
“Brothers then?” asked Zero.
“Brothers!” exclaimed the boy. They hugged each other tight, and rested in each other’s arms, enjoying the unusual warmth of love. ‘Maybe…maybe something more one day…’ They sat back after a minute of holding.
“So, what exactly is your name?” Zero asked. “You haven’t told me yet.”
“Leon.”
“Leon…Brother Leon…”
“Haha! Don’t make me sound a priest now! They would never accept me!”
“Oh? Would it have something to do with that cute comment earlier?”
“Uh…Well, you are.”
“That doesn’t answer the question!”
“Okay. Well the truth is…I’m gay!” Leon said a blush lighting his face. Zero face contorted with the force of the internal struggle going on him. Sadly, he failed as he burst out laughing and fell back on to the bed in tears of joy.
“Hey! Shut up! It’s not funny, okay?”
“I’m…I’m sorry! It just…caught me off guard.” He continued snickering for a minute or so, the only response he received being a mildly agitated glare. “Don’t worry. I’m bi.”
Now it was Leon’s turn to bust out laughing. “WOW! Now I really feel like a moron. I hope we didn’t make a bad decision with this.”
“Ah, who cares? We’re here and happy, right?”
“Right.” Leon looked out the window at the sky. “Wow, it’s already night out there. We talked a lot longer than I thought.”
“You should go before the other dormies come back and a fight ensues.”
“I am your roommate.” Zero’s eyes widened at this, and he felt his spirits soar. Finally, his repayment for all the years of Hell. “We should probably get to sleep, Zero.”
“It’s Mark.”
“I think Zero sounds better. We’ll turn that curse into a blessing.”
Mark smiled. “Alright.” He laid down next to Leon on the bed, as he turned off the lights.
“Goodnight, Leon.”
“Goodnight, Brother.”
“...Brother…”
Imprint

Text: All rights reserved. Any production without consent of the author will result in legal pursuits.
Publication Date: 01-19-2010

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To all those who know the pain of having families who aren't there. To those who know what it is like to find a love in the last person you would ever expect. To those still seeking peace and happiness.