"Let me be the one you call

If you jump I’ll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night"

Kian watched the door close behind the two policemen, the impact of what had happened the past few hours just starting to register. Shane… his beautiful, wonderful Shane… how could somebody be that cruel? He made his way into the living room where Graham was sat holding Shane’s hand.

Graham stood up as Kian came in. "I’ll go make some tea, I think we could all use some." Kian nodded, and Graham gave a re-assuring smile as he left.

Kian sat down beside Shane, clasping the little recording device the police officer had given him in his hand. "Shane…" he tried softly, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Shane looked at him, wearily. "Kian, if I didn’t tell those men, what makes you think I’d tell you?" There was no hint of anger in his voice, so it was easy for Kian to let the comment pass.

"Well, you’re my best friend Shane, friends tell each other things. And friends are there to listen, no matter how bad those things are."

Shane reached for Kian’s hand. "And… this?"

Kian bit his lip. Time to go for the truth option. "If you tell me now, I’ll record it and you won’t have to tell anyone else."

"No-one?"

Kian nodded. "No-one. Never, ever in your whole life. Unless you choose to."

"And, if I don’t tell you now?"

Kian sighed. "Then, you’ll have to tell the police instead."

"I thought you were… you know, suppose to give video evidence. To prove that it’s really you?"

Kian swallowed, Shane wasn’t making this easy. "I know Shane but… You see, it’s just…"

Shane nodded. "It’s just that I’m nuts so they don’t want me on film."

A look of pain crossed Kian’s face. "No, Shane, no! You’re just a bit… unstable right now so they’ve decided to give special allowances to you."

"I’m not unstable Ki, I’m insane! It’s what everyone keeps telling me… I should be locked up somewhere in a straight jacket."

Kian didn’t know what to say. Tears were pricking at his eyelids, dimming his vision of Shane’s wild expression. "Oh, Shane… you’re not insane! Don’t ever think that!"

Shane frowned. "Ok, so you want to hear this? Like, as in you want to hear it or you just pity me and agreed to do this so I wouldn’t have to tell the police?"

"I want to hear it." Kian didn’t even think before he replied.

Shane took a deep breath. "Ok." Kian pressed the play button on the tape recorder as he instinctively took Shane’s hand and moved closer to him.

Chapter 16 >>