Broken Songbirds

It still had been warm and cosy outside when Calister had left his apartment, his old sneakers hitting the asphalt as he ran to catch the bus he wanted to take. The cemetery was about a half hour drive from his home, most if the big old trees that had been there for years still standing, saved from the rapid gentrification outside of its stone walls.

His grandmothers grave was a few minutes in and he stopped ever so often along the way to soak in the musky forest air. It was always so peaceful here, even as night settled down onto the forest, the dirt path only illuminated by the candles on the other graves.

He had brought a few candles as well, just to feel less alone when he sat at his granny last resting place.

Calister made sure her grave was well taken care of, he came here at least every month to plant new flowers, pull the weeds out of the earth and clean her gravestone.

He sat down on the hard dirt ground in front of her grave and lit a candle. As he watched the flame grow stronger he pulled his scarf closer around himself.

He knew the weather could be tricky around this time of year so he had also brought some tea and a blanket, as he planned to stay until at least midnight.

The was nothing as serene as the cemetery on this particular night, when not only the people that mourned their lost loved ones walked to paths but also the spirits. His grandmother had always told him he was gifted, that she’d look after him even when she was gone.

As a teenager he had not believed her. Now as an adult he still didn’t believe in spirits or something so foolish. But a part of him also thought that if his grandma had been right, it would break her heart if none of her family visited her grave.

The night around him was shimmering with the countless candles on other graves, their soft glow radiating of the stone headstones. Calister felt at ease, finally free from his stressful life and his sadness and worries.

Long gone were his thoughts about his ex or Ardy or school or Reed. He just stared at the inscriptions in the stone while the cold slowly crept into his bones and turned his blood into what felt like a thick slush running through his veins.

The longer he sat still, them more the noises around him quieted down until they vanished completely. Even the cracking of trees and the birds high up lost their vigour and their might.

Calister was close to falling asleep when he heard leaves cracking under someones’ feet. He straightened up and looked at his clock. About half an hour after midnight. In a split moment he decided to stay put, let whatever weirdo was still here walk past him and go back to sleep.

He cautiously peeked out from under his blanket and flinched. Was there no place on this green earth where he couldn't find him?

Against his better judgement he got up and cleared his throat. Reed jumped as he talked.

“Needed something spooky after Ardys party?” Reeds cheeks were tinted red, if from the cold or alcohol, Calister couldn’t tell.

Reed stopped, looking in his direction, his chin resting on top of his cane.

“Sure. What are you doing here then.” Calister got up, stopping in front of Reed, his hands hovering over his shoulders before he let them sink onto them.

“You look sick. Are you cold?” Reed snickered. Definitely drunk. With a smooth motion Calister shrugged off his blanket and pulled it around Reeds shoulders. It was wonderful that the blind man couldn’t see his reddening cheeks as he clasped his hands onto Calisters, dropping his cane.

Reed wrapped his arms around Calisters neck, close enough for Calister to feel his soft lips brush against the tender skin of his throat.

“Take me home?” Reed whispered while Calister was still frozen in place, his arms hanging limply down his sides. His talking snapped him out of his trance and he pried the man off him, forcefully grabbing his arm instead.

“Let’s go then.” Calister picked up his stuff with one hand and held onto Reed with the other. He was fuming. And in a weird way his stomach was also to tingling and his whole body felt like it had been thrown into a hot tub.

He knew he was walking too fast, Reed stumbling behind him, blue eyes opened wide as if he was looking for something off in the distance. Calister didn’t slow down until they had reached the parking lot where he let go of the others arm. Reed was rubbing it, so it had obviously hurt.

“Sorry...” mumbled Calister as he opened the passenger side car door and lent Reed his arm so he wouldn’t hit his dumb head while climbing in.

“Hey!” Reed grabbed the back of his jacket as he turned away and tugged at it. Calister looked down, seeing Reed smiling like a moron, teeth showing and all.

“You are really special, do you know that?” Reed snickered and then doubled forward, emptying his stomach out on the sidewalk. Calister jumped back and cursed, but stepped forward again to fix Reeds seat belt.

“And you’re fucking hammered mate, that’s what you are!” He closed the door and walked around the car, sitting down in the drivers seat. He threw a plastic shopping bag in vaguely Reeds direction.

“If you vomit in my car, I will murder you.” Then he started the car and let the motor howl, taking off as fast as possible.