Disclaimer: You know it is getting harder and harder to think of witty ways of wording this so I’ll be succinct. Nope, nope and nope.

Aim for the Burning Sun.

‘Maria honey, come away now. Let Grandpa get some rest.’ Gabby beckoned to her daughter and gently lead her from the room.

On the landing they passed Melissa.

‘I’ve called Tim Jr and Rachel, they are both flying down tonight. They’ll be here in the morning.’

Gabby shook her head sadly. ‘I’m not sure he’ll last that long.’

‘Grandpa is sick isn’t he?’ Maria said.

Gabby squatted down beside her. ‘He’s just old sweetheart. His body is wearing out.’

‘Is he going to die?’

Gabby looked to Melissa for support.

‘Everybody dies eventually. It’s Grandpa’s time.’ She told her niece.

‘But I don’t want him to die.’ Maria began to sob. ‘I love Grandpa and who will look after Grandpa Mark?’

‘We all love Grandpa Dan but we need to be brave for Grandpa Mark. Can you do that?’

Maria chewed her bottom lip in thought then nodded.

‘Good girl. Now why don’t you go with your Auntie Melissa and see if you can’t find some chocolate ice-cream in the fridge. If I know your Grandpas there is bound to be some there somewhere.’

Gabby watched her go and then went back into the bedroom.

The curtains had been drawn to keep out the evening sun, the room was cool and bathed in half light but it was undoubtedly the room of a dying man.

Maria had been right. Who would look after Mark once Daniel had gone?

Right up until Daniel had been taken ill six nights before they had shared this room. It was only in the last two that he had been persuaded to sleep in the spare room so that he could get some proper rest as oppose to getting up from his makeshift bed in the chair every few hours to check if Daniel needed any water or to help him sit up when he started on one of his coughing fits.

They had been together for nearly forty years. That was longer than any other couple Gabby knew. Certainly longer than her own parents. Her mother was now on her fourth husband, her father his third wife.

Mark himself was now in his early seventies and was still fairly sprightly unfortunately though Daniel was not fairing quite so well and his health had been steadily declining throughout the recent years.

He had been out supervising the calving of their now considerable herd of cattle when he had collapsed. One of the farm hands had brought him back to the house, carrying him up the stairs whilst Mark rung for the doctor.

The doctor had immediately wanted to move Daniel to the hospital for closer supervision. Mark would hear none of it, knowing how much his lover hated the things. So instead the doctor had left and the family had been called.

Gabby wasn’t sure how but somehow she knew that Mark knew Daniel was not much longer for this world and she also knew that he was going to be heartbroken when he went.

Positioning herself carefully on the edge of the bed she took one of Daniel’s hands in hers, gently caressing her thumb back and forth over the parchment tight skin, the blue veins clearly visible. Why had none of them noticed how thin he was getting? It’s not like he ever had any weight to spare anyway. Mark had developed a bit of a paunch in his later years but Daniel had barely changed. His hair had thinned, the skin around his eyes gradually become imbued with small laughter lines but other than that he was still the man who, when she was a small child, used to take her to the zoo, had taught her how to ride. Who had promised to teach Maria when he was ‘up and about again.’

The seasons had come and gone. They had all dispersed to pursue lives of their own but this house and the love that Daniel and Mark shared had always been the bedrock of the family, an unshakeable foundation.

Of course they had argued, Gabby had no doubt of that. What couple didn’t? But their love had remained strong.

Making sure that Daniel was well tucked in, that his jug of water was topped up and placed within easy reach, Gabby reluctantly left him sleeping and went to rejoin the others.

Lucy was sat in the front room with the ‘men of the house’ Tim and Jason quietly playing chess, though it appeared neither were really putting that much effort into their tactics. It was as if the sheer effort of moving a piece from one position on the board to another was task enough.

Gabby’s husband Sam was supposedly reading the evening paper but she knew that if asked he wouldn’t be able to tell her the details of a single one of the news stories.

Mark was sat with Lucy, side by side on the couch. They had got out one of the old photo albums and were silently going through it.

The whole family was gathered for the passing of an era.

Melissa briefly brought Maria in to say goodnight to her mother and then offered to take her up for her which Gabby readily agreed to.

One by one the others also made their ‘goodnights’ and Gabby followed Tim and Jason up as they helped their father upstairs. None of them questioned his decision when he told them he was going to sleep in his own bed that night.

It was 4 am when Daniel woke Mark. The sun was just beginning to creep over the horizon and the house was silent. All the other occupants soundly asleep.

‘Hello you.’ Mark whispered, a smile gracing his tired features.

Daniel smiled back and put a frail hand up to stroke his lover’s cheek. ‘It’s nearly sunrise.’ He observed.

‘That it is.’

‘Will you take me outside so that I can watch it?’

Mark looked deep into Daniel’s eyes. Saw the exhaustion, the struggle. Saw the love. ‘Of course I will.’

With small, shuffling steps they made their way out of the bedroom and down the hall. At the top of the stairs Daniel had to pause to catch his breath and then they continued.

Covered by a warm blanket they lay together on the porch swing. Mark with his arms wrapped tightly round Daniel’s body, Daniel with his hands covering Mark’s, his head resting in the crook of his shoulder.

The sky put on its Sunday best for them. Pale pink gave way to tender orange which in turn bowed to a baby blue draped with wispy cotton wool clouds.

Daniel looked up it and gave a small sigh of contentment. ‘It’s beautiful.’

‘Just like you my love, just like you.’ Mark stroked his hair and smiled.

Daniel raised their joined hands and kissed them. ‘I love you.’

‘I know.’

‘But I’m so tired.’ His eyes struggled to remain open.

Mark leant in close, put his lips to Daniel’s ear. ‘Go to him my love, he’s calling you. Go…’ He kissed Daniel’s forehead tenderly, ‘and tell him thanks for the loan.’

Daniel smiled and closed his eyes.

He felt his body floating and his vision surrounded by mist.

Slowly the mists parted and a figure could be seen. A young man with sleek, glossy hair and eyes that burned even brighter and bluer than Daniel had remembered.

Daniel looked down at his own hands, at the smooth, soft skin, no longer tempered by age and the elements.

The young man came over, placed a gentle kiss on his lips. The touch was warm and moist.

‘Told you I would wait for you.’

‘Yes you did.’

Daniel’s companion turned away, looked back over his shoulder, held out his hand and smiled. ‘Come.’

And slipping his hand into Darren’s Daniel went.