17 17-Retribution (2/2)
”Is it sex toys? Ooh the handcuffs?” he smiles and claps, making us all laugh as he opens the box and stares in amazement.
He pulls out a framed copy of my mom's chocolate chip cookie recipe, a special gay pride t-shirt that reads Everything is Pride... And Equality Matters! and it's signed by the band that released the shirts. He keeps pulling things out, like the item I bought while he wasn't looking at Hot Topic. I watch his eyes fill with tears as he looks at the pack of matching rings on chains, the packaging talks about how wearers pledge to be allies to the LGBT+ community but to also wait to get married until federal and state laws allow marriage equality for all. He pulls me into a deep kiss before digging deeper into the box, pulling out sheet music for violin for some of his favorite songs, as well as a little plushy like the one Lilo had in Lilo and Stitch, I even got him a Stitch throw blanket. I pull out the last present, my old iPod, loaded with all of his favorite songs. I wrap him in the blanket and skip to the last song.
He holds me closer as we listen to Calum Scott's ”No Matter What”. I tell him that we will be here no matter what for him and he cries.
His parents join us and he shows them his presents. Together we wait for the doctors to come take him to his room for the next two weeks.
His mom holds the stuff they won't let him take as they put him in a wheelchair and roll him away. I hold his hand down the hall until it's time to let go, and even then I want to just hold him close.
I watch him disappear in the elevator, still wrapped in the blanket, holding the shirt. His parents meet me in the hall.
”Things are going to get better now, hopefully this will help him,” his dad puts his hand on his shoulder, ”He'll be home before we know it. Thank you for saving our boy Josh, and thank you for doing so much for him.”
I smile as we all go to get Arriana and leave for the night. Arriana and I are tasked with getting Zayne his missed schoolwork and then coming back here for visiting hours so we need to be asleep early.
It's hard not being able to text him or call him to ask if he's ok and tell him I love him. Most nights I toss and turn waiting for the time to pass. The only thing that helps me is hearing that final bell and knowing that that means I'm going to see Zayne.
Arriana often joins me, even my mom and dad do. They keep asking how he's doing and sometimes decide they'd rather see for themselves and talk to him personally to make sure he's ok. Mom especially is having a hard time after seeing Zayne and me like that.
The three weeks do fly by and before we know it Zayne is cleared to come home. His cuts are still healing and will require follow up attention, but other than that we finally get to take him home.
I go with everyone to pick him up, even Tempe and Caira join us to greet him at his discharge. We all bring him home and work to get him settled at home again.
The apartment has been cleaned and the front of the apartment repainted. It almost looks normal again.
At school, no one confesses, but word of Zayne's recovery travels fast and it's obvious who reacts unhappily to that news. People are still uncomfortable with Zayne and me together, but now no one says anything or gives looks. No one whispers about him while he's still home recovering, no one looks at me funny.
You see some people are disappointed with how things turned out and honestly, I love it, seeing the faces of those to blame for this situation and seeing them acknowledge to themselves that they've lost feels amazing.
They did lose.
For once, Zayne does win.