Butterflye Interlude

Interlude.

Zeruki felt a stinging numbness overloading his brain with every breath he took in. The stale hospital air was sickening and upset his stomach. Honey brown eyes examined the metal chained-link fixture covering the window he had become accustomed to gazing out of day after day, after day. His eyes would search for the butterflies that weave in and out of the tall grass in the field just beyond the triple glass windowpane. Not long after his recent battle to free himself from the grasps of drug addiction and insanity, they had become so empty and devoid of emotion. The mind that had once been viewed through them had become lost and caught in a sea of chaos, calmed in bouts by foreign medications that held him captive. There was no escape. There was no hiding. The thick scars that covered his forearms were a constant reminder of his recent attempt to end it all. That night, having taken every pill and mind-numbing drug he could get his hands on, Zeruki swore he had seen the darkness, ending his torment once and for all.  His attempt proved a failure, as he had been led back to the light by some force, and a ray of hope deep within his subconscious.

This force, was love.

A gentle footstep was audible, just barely through the thick walls of the isolation room, and his mind broke all concentration. Crawling away from his perch near the window, the patient slithered over on his knees towards the door, where he could hear a gentle knocking. Zeruki didn't move when he finally reached it. Instead he curled up on the floor, in his mint-green hospital pajamas. He placed his hands upon his head, locks of soft bleached-out ginger masses that had once covered his beautiful, Asian gaze were pulled back off his face by clenched fists.. His eyes blinked and stare at the floor, curling his slender knees up to his chest as he expected a voice from the other side of the large dead-bolted door. Zeruki's once emotionless, devoid expression lit up as he could sense who was there, behind the door, awaiting him. His heart burned with longing, and he pushed his head against the door.

"Zel?"

"Daz?"

The tears fell in streams down Zeruki's pale face, from gorgeous slanted eyes. Suddenly overcome with joy, he let out a cry of desperation.  He wanted nothing more than to tear through that wall to get to him. The dark-haired young man on the other side soon fell to his knees as well, pressing his own hand against the door, hoping that of his best friend was right there on the other side. This was a daily routine for the two. Zeruki's lifelong best friend Darren had become accustomed to visiting Zel day after day during the six-month rehabilitation period. Not once had the other resented Zel for his efforts in trying to kill himself and wipe his image from existence. A mixture of hard-core drugs and self- mutilation, on top of Schizophrenia and Bi-Polar Disorder had placed the demented young man in the hands of the intensive care unit numerous times before, but this last attempt was the final attempt. A drug overdose, and a mass of deep gashes to both arms from punching through a glass door had nearly done the deed. His life, as well as the use of his arms had been restored through painful operations and therapy. Still recovering, both physically and mentally,  Zeruki had no choice but to sit away in the holding cell, re-contemplating his future and his life. His one ray of hope, his only reason for forcing himself out of bed each morning was now sitting right outside that very door. His life was there. everything he knew and loved was within inches of him.. yet he couldn't even touch him.

"I have to tell you something, Zeruki."

"Please talk to me, Daz. I missed you so much"

"Its may change everything about us. our friendship. Your recovery. Our lives."

"What is it? Please tell me..."

The slanted eyes closed tight as his head pressed to the door wantonly. It seemed like hours before the other finally got the courage to respond.

"I... think I'm falling in love with you"

A tear fell to the floor on either sides of the door, and the patient carefully slipped tips of his fingers beneath the large door to reach those of his lifelong friend. Such touching, beautiful and brave words fell from Darren's mouth.. If only he were stronger. then maybe he could respond. Zel's gaze moved up and he faced forward. The tips of soft, gentle fingers now brushed over his, and held the tight.

"I wanted to tell you for so long.. I didn't want it to ruin our friendship."

The other boy watched closely as those fingers slipped out from beneath the door and drew back to their owner. It was then that he knew rejection was inevitable. His eyes closed, and he stood up. To his surprise, there before him in the triple-pane window, was Zeruki, standing up as well. Young gazes interlocked. This was the first time their eyes had met since the last time Darren had last seen his beloved when he was still in the hospital bed.

"Do you see that?"

"See what?"

"Butterflies"

Darren searched with his eyes and he looked around the room. He saw nothing of the sort, but knew exactly what his friend was speaking of. What he meant. A smile fell over him, and he nearly melted slowly back into Zeruki's intense, psychotically beautiful gaze.

"I see them. "

"They are all around us"

Zeruki raised his hand to the glass, and pressed against the pane. Darren did the same, tears streaming down his face. He began stroking the outline of his fragile, beloved's image, and he knew right then, that it was love. Ten years of friendship between the two boys had led up to this very moment. Zeruki smiled for the first time since his friend could remember.

"I love you too"

"My Beloved Butterflye"