Sky sat there on the road and bawled, though I didn't know what to do, it never crossed my mind on why I had put myself in this situation. I genuinely wanted to help him and didn't mind riding this wave with him. After a very long time I was part of something and someone and I was attracted to him, I wanted to stay around and not let go.
I sat next to him and waited till his crying subsided and started telling him my story, my insecurities, the time in the army, the fact that I was closeted and how lonely I was after my family disbursed and the relationships disintegrated. For the first time I spoke from my heart with someone, I kept a cover-up with the assigned therapist as well for my PTSD but I told Sky, how I was relieved when the bullet hit my vest and hip and how disappointed I was when I woke up in the hospital with a repaired hip bone. I wasn't weak or a coward to kill myself but I understood loneliness and sometimes dying is so much easier. I told him why I spent 18 hours a day on physical labor, so that I can sleep at night and how hard I try to not have alcohol or smoke. I knew that the day I started drinking alone will be the day I start to spiral into self-destruction.
"I am not saving you Sky, I am trying to save myself here." I concluded, he moved and hugged me, both sitting down and he cried. Years of independence and training making it difficult to cry but I could feel his pain and mine, I hugged him back holding him tightly to me.
I raised him and he limped a few steps ahead of me while I picked up his stuff and my jacket. His track seat was covered in blood. He must have hurt himself when he sat and dragged himself on the ground. As part of my first aid training I could take care of this but I wasn't sure he was okay for me to touch him with the way he reacted earlier, but then he hugged me, I am not sure how to react with a real person after a year of being with only Rusty as my sole companion. He always likes it when I pet him.
I walked past him and opened the door and immediately got attacked by an extremely happy and excited Rusty. He was barking and licking me till he saw Sky and then went to him. Sky crouched down and petted Rusty, who laid down and asked for belly rubs.
"I am very proud of this house, I have repaired most of it in the last year I was living here as my Dad had abandoned it and lived in the outhouse. Three master bedrooms are on the first floor, Living and TV room to the left and kitchen and dining to the right. Straight ahead behind the stair are the laundry and pantry." I pointed at the general direction of the rooms like a flight attendant.
I took his stuff to the large guest room and showed him the closet, the workings of the shower and where to find fresh linen and towels. He stood at the door nodding politely with Rusty sitting at his feet. I left the room and stood at the landing outside his room and he turned around to look at me.
"That's my room I pointed at the end of the landing and that's another room, was my parents. This was my sister's room before she left. I will get some lunch for you and your medicines are in your bag. You give me a shout if you need anything."
"Thank you for doing this for me." He said his eyes watering.
"Once you are alright I will make you work hard in the barn and then we will see if you are so thankful." I smiled
