The Reason Why

Chapter 3

Frank was sitting on the waiting room when Gerard arrived. “Frank?” Gerard whispered. Frank looked up, getting up and locking his arms around Gerard, burying his face in Gerard’s neck, sobbing. “What happened?” Gerard asked, softly kissing Frank’s forehead.

Frank pulled away, looking into Gerard’s eyes. “We we-we’re coming h-home from th-the party and-and a c-cop stopped us-us, and… Oh God!” Frank started crying again. It was all too much.

“Mr. Iero?” the doctor spoke.

Frank looked back at the doctor. “Yeah?”

“Mr. Way is awake. He wants to see you. Room 264.” Frank nodded and started walking to the room, leaving Gerard behind, talking to the doctor.

Frank approached the room door, slowly opening it and getting inside. The way Mikey was lying in that bed, so helpless, made his heart sink. He approached the bed, taking Mikey hand into his own, kissing it. “Hey…” he mumbled “How are you feeling?”

“I dunno…” Mikey replied, voice barely a whisper. “Frank… I can’t stand being in here, having all these people around me and-“

“They just want to help you…”

“I know, but… Please, Frank. I trust you. You’re the only one I trust. Get me out of here…” Mikey’s eyes were looking into Frank’s, pleading. And Frank knew he couldn’t deny him anything. He loved Mikey too much.

“Now?!” Mikey nodded. “Gerard… he’s downstairs... he’ll get worried and-“

Mikey shook his head. “Please, Frank. Get me out of here.”

“Where would we go to?”

Mikey smiled weakly. “I don’t care, as long as we’re away from here…”

Frank smiled back, and looked around. “You think you can walk?”

Mikey pushed the covers aside, setting his feet to the ground. “I think so…”

Frank supported Mikey’s weight, as they went to the small closet to get his clothes. Frank helped Mikey get into them and they made way through the corridors, going to the back door, figuring it would be easier to get out without being noticed.

They got to the car and Frank helped Mikey inside. Frank got in the drivers seat and started the car. “Where do you want to go?”

Mikey thought for a moment. “There’s a little hut in the woods, just outside Newark. Me and Gerard used to go there when we were young. It’s been abandoned for years. Only we know where the keys are.”

Frank nodded, driving away, as Mikey gave him some more directions. When they got to the hut, Mikey was fast asleep in the passengers’ seat. Frank leaned over to press a kiss to his cheek, brushing some hair out of his eyes. “Mikey, baby, we’ve arrived.”

Mikey opened his eyes slowly, looking deep into Frank’s eyes and resting his head on the younger boy’s shoulder for a while.

“C’mon.” Frank said, getting out of the car. He helped Mikey out of the car and into the hut, once they were able to find the keys. Inside there was only a small couch, a bed, a kitchen and a bathroom.

Frank put Mikey into bed and went to lock everything up, lighting up a gas lamp, for it was getting night. Frank approached Mikey on the bed and kissed his forehead. “Get some sleep, baby.”

“How about you?”

“I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Stay with me…” Mikey said, holding Frank’s hand.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Please, stay…” Frank got into bed, and Mikey laid his head on the younger boy’s shoulder. “Thank you, Frank…” Mikey whispered.

Frank nodded and kissed Mikey’s forehead. “Get some sleep, Mikers.”

Mikey closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Frank couldn’t sleep, though. He watched Mikey closely, not sure if he had done the right thing. After a while, Mikey cuddled closer to him, grasping his shirt. Frank petted Mikey’s hair softly, and kissed his forehead, as if to let him know he was still there and wouldn’t leave him.

Frank stood there, looking up at the ceiling, for a long time. In fact, when he looked back at the window, he could see small rays of light penetrating through the cracks. He looked at his watch. 6:45 a.m. Frank yawned, looking back at Mikey, in time to see him opening his eyes softly.