He struggled to help the man up and to stumble to the bathroom. He still seemed bewildered because he made no visibleeffort to help himself into the room. 

“Can you undress yourself kid? You’ll need to shower before getting into some dry clothes.” Mat’s arm was wrapped around the stranger’s waist to give him stability. His voice cooed at him to reassure the stranger that this situation was a safe space.

This is when Mat noticed their height difference, he was at least 5 inches taller than the stranger.

The guy nodded slowly and began to undress without a second thought. Mat obviously averted his gaze out of respect. Not that looking at an intoxicated person was something to stare at anyways even if they were naked. 

“Um,” the stranger said. 

Mat looked at him again, noticing he was stripped of everything besides his underwear. He visibly looked uncomfortable. 

“Alright can you step into the tub? You can sit down and we can have the shower head run.” Mat’s shower head was detachable and easily usable even when drunk. 

The man coyly complied, taking all of his concentration not to trip while stepping into the tub. Mat took the opportunity to gather his clothes and put them in the washer that was right outside his bathroom before continuing to help the man.

When he stepped back in he noticed the stranger curled up in an upright ball in the white tub. He brought his knees to his chest and buried his head into his knees. 

“Hey buddy, are you conscious?” It was a valid question. Mat approached stealthily to not alarm his guest. 

He slightly moved his head to look up Mat. His face was still covered in hair, but he could make out one sapphire eye. 

“Glad to see you’re still alive.” He gave a half smile and turned to switch on the water. It was cold of course, it takes a few seconds to heat up. The sudden temperature change made the stranger jolt. 

“Sorry, it’ll be warm soon.” He unlatched the head and brought it down to the stranger. “I have body wash or a bar of soap you can use. And I have hair care but I don’t know if it’ll do you any good.” He softly chuckled. He was referring to the fact that he used specialized products for his coarse hair. 

He didn’t say anything just groggily looked at Mat. He didn’t even reach to grab the shower head. “I-I’m sorry.” He croaked out while beginning to quietly cry again. 

His smile faltered as he weighed out his options for this stranger. Maybe I’m going too far with this? However, I couldn’t in good faith leave someone like that nor can I allow someone to sleep in their own filth. 

“Please hold this.” The stranger shakily took it. Mat went under his sink to find Lucas’s shampoo and conditioner. Lucas was Matthew’s best friend. He grabbed them and returned to the tub. There he took back the shower and dampened the males hair with warm water. He turned off the water and then began shampooing his hair. 

The stranger didn’t resist or say anything. Maybe it was the alcohol that prevented his consent to wash him, but all Mat wanted was for him to be clean and comfortable. Especially after such a traumatic event. It didn’t take long for him to lather and rinse out both the shampoo and conditioner. 

“If you want to wash your body you’ll have to stand up.” He instructed. 

The man slowly rose to face the shower head Mat put back in its proper place. 

“I’ll give you some privacy.” He started to head for the door while closing the curtain.

“Don’t leave. I-I don’t want to be alone.” He brushes the curtain aside and left one eye visible to plead with Mat. 

The taller man pivoted around in compliance. “Alright. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be sitting over there.” He gestured to the toilet, the seat down of course. He watched as the stranger pulled the curtain back and resumed the shower. 

It was about 10 minutes before Mat grew a tad concerned. There was nothing but the sound of the water. 

“We doing alright?” Nothing. He rose from the toilet and approached the curtain. “Want to make sure you’re hanging in there.” With that, the shower turned off. 

“I need a towel.” The stranger sounded a bit more sober now. The clarification was more sensible but still a slur hung from his voice. 

Mat already had the towel ready and had it hanging next to the shower on the hook. He turned around so the guest could step out comfortably. He also had the dry clothes on the sink, which wasn’t far from the tub. 

“Why are you doing this?” The man finally spoke once more after getting dressed. Mat hesitantly peered his head over at him, wary of the fact he might not be dressed. Thankfully he was. 

When Mat took a good look at him, he noticed that one lonely blue spec of color where his iris should be. His wet hair gripped his cheeks and forehead, concealing his delicate features. His clothes hung loosely on his frame but still worked for what it was. His arms were lazily crossed over his chest, revealing his shaking hands. 

“Because you needed help. It’s as simple as that. Now let’s get you set up to lay down.” He walked past the stranger and opened the bathroom door. He swung to the washer to put the man's clothes in the dryer. “Follow me this way, I’ll get you a blanket for the couch.” 

The man stumbled behind, struggling to find his proper footing. “Why didn’t you just let me die?” He deadpanned while almost falling to the floor.

Mat caught him before his head hit the tile. “I know it’s hard right now. Life isn’t always easy and sometimes it seems better to give up then to work it through, but it’ll be okay. Someday it will be.” His voice was gentle and steady. He knew it was important to emphasize with sincerity. Which Mat was being honest; being disowned hurt more than anything and he almost gave it up. It took him many years to come to terms with it but freedom meant more to Matthew than confinement.

He helped the stranger onto the couch where his head laid on a throw pillow. He grumbled something in a slurred voice but it wasn’t audible.

“Let me get you a blanket, okay?” 

The younger male nodded. 

It didn’t take long for him to hurry back with the soft blanket. In those moments, the stranger dozed off. 

Mat smiled by waving the sheet over him to give him some warmth. He didn’t move a muscle. He was curled up in a ball snoring softly. 

Sweet dreams. He thought before taking care of his own damp clothes and attending to the mess in the kitchen.

Matthew didn’t mean to fall asleep on the arm chair. He thought that this guy might need some company even when sleeping—-actually that was a lie. The emotional exhaustion from the day prior was so much that as soon as he sat down and shut his eyes, he passed out. 

The next morning brought many worries and questions. Mat opened his eyes to notice the couch was empty and panic struck his brain immediately. With adrenaline pumping, he sprang up—ignoring the crink in his neck, and searched every room in his apartment to openly find it empty. 

Calming himself down he took note of the dryer door being slightly a jar and of a neat stack of what appeared to be his own clothes on the kitchen table. Next to it was a note written on a napkin. 

To you kind stranger,

My head is pounding but I hope you can understand my words. Thank you for your hospitality. When I’m sober I’m not this way. I’m sorry you had to see me like that. You’re a good person and I appreciate everything you did for me. I hope we never meet though, I couldn’t bare it. I wish you well.

The note was short, honest, yet bitter. The words, I hope we never meet, kept spinning in his head. Mat, while not wanting to involve himself in this, already found himself playing the lead role. He earnestly wanted to reassure himself that this stranger would be okay. No one jumps off a bridge in hopes that they’ll make it. He never wanted to play the hero and would deny himself being one. 

Who are you? His grip on the napkin tightened