New York City
Outside, a blinding yellow-colored sun shone brightly. Temps were in the eighties, and countless New Yorkers were dashing to and fro as they made their journey down Times Square. Yet, despite this gorgeous late summer scene, exactly thirteen floors above the sidewalk, a storm raged.
“You told Maria we would intervene in her son’s affairs?” Eric shouted the instant Mike appeared in the doorway to his office. “Are you out of your freaking mind? Why would you do such a thing? I mean, sure … the kid’s a moron for not dumping Felipe. But still...”
Mike glazed toward the ceiling.
“Well, Eric,” he began, before stopping. “It’s sort of like this. We HAVE discussed this topic a number of times since Maria first called, haven’t we?”
“Yes. … But,” Eric said, not wanting to agree.
“But what?” Mike abruptly interjected. “Didn’t we agree what’s Felipe’s doing is wrong and it needs to come to an end?”
“Yeah. ... But.”
Mike planted his hands on the side of his hips.
"Don’t you care enough about Chad Jr. to want to help him out?”
“Yes,” Eric replied, looking guilty. “I do care. Damn it, Mike. You know I do. And I also believe no one should be in an abusive relationship.”
“But,” Mike said, knowing something else was coming.
“If Chad had contacted us, asking for help ... then I’d say let’s help. But that’s not the case, Mike. It isn’t Chad that’s asking for help. ... Heaven’s knows why he doesn’t mind being mentally and emotionally abused. But that fact is, he doesn’t – and it’s his mother asking for our help.”
Mike remained by the doorway and shook his head. However, inside, a voice confirmed, Eric’s right. You know.
“I agree, Eric. Chad should have been the person who approached us. But, as we’ve discussed before, we got a situation where the kid is head over heels in love and he’s not willing to do anything to end it.”
Eric paused and raised his hand to his chin. “That’s true. But ...”
A blank expression then appeared on his face. However, it was soon replaced with a question mark.
“I wonder,” Eric then said to no one in particular.
Mike patiently waited for the rest of whatever Eric was going to say. But when nothing else came forward, “You wonder what?”
Eric jerked as if he’d been awoken from a daydream.
“Oh. It’s nothing. At least nothing I want to talk about,” he said, heading toward the coffee pot. “This scenario just reminded me of something long ago and personal.”
“Oh?” Mike's eyes widened and he moved toward his companion.
Eric responded with a nod and grabbed his empty cup. Yet, deep inside, he unexpectedly started to feel as vulnerable as a child.
“I take it this is something you haven’t mentioned before, Bro,” Mike said, watching his friend add cream and sugar to his hazelnut brew.
Eric blinked his confirmation and raised the cup to his lips – before releasing a sigh.
“I think I better shut the door,” Mike said, taking his cup with him. "It looks like it’s about to get serious."
It closed with a bang.
“Now. Would you prefer to stand or would you like to take a seat?” Mike asked, making a gesture toward his companion’s desk. “It's obvious we’ve hit on something which needs to be discussed.”
Eric looked at his lover through eyes, not unlike those of a battered animal, and gave him a weak smile.
“What happened, Eric?” Mike asked, taking a seat beside him. “Who or what hurt you, and when?”
Eric responded by looking into Mike’s face and a tear began to flow down his cheek. “I really shouldn’t tell you,” he said in a broken voice. “In fact, it would be probably better if I didn’t.”
Mike frowned and gazed out of the window of their thirteenth floor Times Square office and a flood of thoughts proceeded to dash through his mind like race cars in the Daytona 500. Each, entering one ear and escaping out of the other.
“You’ve also been abused,” Mike stated after a minute had passed.
Eric’s eyes winced, and he confirmed his friend’s conclusion with a short nod.
“When? How?” Mike asked. “Did you tell anyone about it? ... I mean. I am just country hick as you have reminded me heavens know how many times. But ... This is something you should have told someone about and I hope you did.”
“No. I didn’t,” Eric said, releasing a muffled cry while lowering his head onto his desktop. “I couldn’t. I just couldn’t, Mike. It was a complex situation and I doubt you’d understand.”
Mike exhaled, knowing his friend was most likely right. He might not fully understand. After all, being raised a country bumpkin, what if anything traumatic has ever occurred? He only knew what he had learned over the years.
“You’re correct. I might not, Eric. But, you should know this. I love you and as our vows stated, it’s for better or for worse. And while I may not fully understand what happened to you, you should know I’m with you, here and now – and I’m going to stand by you no matter what.”
Eric raised his head and blinked – and a crooked smile tried to form on his lips.
Mike smiled back at him and gave his companion’s shoulders a tight hug.
“It ... happened ... years ago,” he began while trying to gather some strength. “Back ... when ... I was just a kid. .... You know. ... And I didn’t know better.”