“Archer! The packages are here!” Kiel sprints to the front door excitedly.

Today their new office furniture arrived and Kiel was ecstatic to be able to set up his new office. Though Kiel hadn’t even started his college classes let alone even look he still wanted his office to be set up beforehand. Archer followed Kiel but at a controlled pace. He carried the few boxes inside while Kiel brought in the smaller ones. They set them down in Kiel’s old room and began opening them. The two had already merged their bedrooms the day before and were now waiting to furnish the new empty room.

Kiel took out some of the smaller decor; lamp, desk mat, posters, and even fake pants. Archer unpacked and assembled the big boxes; a standing desk, desk chair, and more shelves. Then two figured out the computer and monitor set up. After a good half hour of assembling and unpacking Archer and Kiel started to put things in place.

In the corner of the room was Kiel’s bookshelves with all his books along with some posters and shelved adorned with plants and more books. The middle of the room, on the main wall, sat a desk with a monitor and PC set up. Finally all around the ceiling and corners of walls were LED lights and laps scattered in different places.

Archer takes a step back and sighs. “Well its all done. How do you like the feel of it?”

Kiel runs his hand along the desk, shelves, and bookcase with a smile on his face. “I like it,” He continues to smile and giggle quietly.

“I’m glad,” Archer smiles. “Now we just have to sign you up for actual classes, so you can use the office.”

“Oh, yeah I forgot about that,” Kiel walks back over to Archer’s side.

Archer snakes his arm around Kiel’s waist. “Everything is falling into place.”

Kiel looks up in Archer’s direction and smiles. “Thank you,” He whispers softly.

After admiring the room Archer leads the two of them to the living room, ready to relax. Archer pulls Kiel into his lap and rests his head on the smaller man’s shoulder and sighs.

“What a long day.”

“Yeah, but I’m glad we got the office set up,” Kiel smiles.

For a while Kiel sits in Archer’s lap curled up, while Archer plays with his hair. They sit like this for a while but the sound of Kiel’s phone cracks the silence. Kiel shifts and groans as he grabs his phone from next to him. On his phone displayed a blue incoming call screen with the name “Mom”. Kiel sighs again and picks up the phone, turning it on speaker.

“Hey mom,” He says softly and two happy voices pipe up.

“Oh my baby! How have you been?” Kiel’s mother say loudly.

“Ann give the poor boy a second,” Kiel’s dad interrupts.

“Oh Greg, he is my son. Anyways how have you been honey?”

“I’ve been good and me and Archer are okay,” He says softly. “We just finished setting up my new office. I’m going to become a writer.”

“Oh honey, I’m so happy for you. Are you eating and going to work, oh and getting sleep and eating,” She stammers.

“Yes mom, I am eating and getting sleep.”

Archer rubs Kiel’s waist and rest his chin on his shoulder. “Hey Mrs. Winters, how is Europe?”

“Oh Archer dear! It’s amazing, the sights, our house, and even the food are to die for.”

She continues blabbering on talking about her new life in Europe, but Kiel can’t help but think they are having a way better life without him. He knows his parents are happy but that is only because Kiel isn’t there. Archer notices tears in Kiel’s eyes and sighs. He knows that even if Kiel is happy with this new life, he is still struggling. The trauma and neglect he suffered as a child will always eat Kiel away and there is nothing Archer can do to stop it.

“Hey um Kiel is dozing off so I’m going to let you go,” He says bluntly.

“Oh um okay…Have a good night you two and um get some sleep,” She says confused about why Archer was hanging up.

Kiel’s father pipes in one last time. “See ya boys.”

Kiel breaks down in Archer’s lap, sobbing. Archer holds him close and rubs his back.

“shhh… its okay baby.”

Kiel continues to sob, his body shaking. “Do you think they are happier because I’m not there,” Kiel stutters.

“Oh Kiel, I don’t know maybe, maybe not. I know it’s hard knowing they are living better than they were here. But you just need to live here, don’t worry about your parents anymore they have caused you enough pain.”

Kiel’s glossy lost eyes look up at Archer. They are lost voids searching for a home or comfort. Archer holds him close, gently rocking him side to side. He also whispers soft phrases, attempting to calm Kiel down.

Eventually Kiel falls into a restless sleep and Archer just holds him, worried yet loving.