Elysium Read Free

spread into stubble all across his face. The mirror stared back, and he was surprised at what he saw. It was the same jaw line. The same stubble that appeared every twelve or so hours. But for a second, he didn’t recognize the face. He rubbed his head and pulled out a new bandage.
    Antoine was still asleep when Adrian crept into his room. The machines were all right. Beeping along quietly. His heart still pumped blood. His lungs still breathed air. Antoine seemed so peaceful when he slept. So thin. So frail. Adrian suppressed a twinge of pain and bent down to place a soft kiss on his forehead. He wouldn’t wake. It took a lot more than that to wake him. He did stir, but only for a moment. Adrian slipped out as he had slipped in, being careful to pull the door quietly shut behind him.
    The shower felt good. Warm water washed over his body. He gave in to his need to take care of his own business and tugged at his cock.
    He thought of Antoine and released into sorrow.
    The morning routine was easy now. Adrian made his own breakfast first, then Antoine’s. By the time the nurse arrived, Antoine would be all set. The blender whirred his banana mush cereal. He threw in extra vitamins. It might not help, but it wouldn’t hurt.
    “Antoine?” Adrian softly said. He didn’t stir. “Antoine?” He was taking too long to wake. Adrian shook him, a pang of terror shooting down into his groin.
    “Antoine!”
    His eyes snapped open. “What?”
    Adrian breathed and caressed his face.
    “Breakfast,” in almost a whisper.
    “Yeah? Oh.” He weakly smiled. His teeth were gray and dark in places. His skin was tight along his cheekbones and eyes. Spots danced across a face that had once been so smooth and clear.
    “Let me help you,” Adrian said and easily lifted him into a sitting position. Antoine used to put up a fuss. Lately, he submitted to his situation. Their situation. Adrian placed the tray over his legs and tucked a napkin into his nightshirt. He fed him like a baby, wiping his mouth where it dripped. Antoine put up his hand to say he wanted to stop for a minute. He chewed methodically, then swallowed with an audible gulp.
    “How’s your head?” he asked.
    “Better,” Adrian said.
    Adrian attempted to feed him more. Antoine stopped him by putting his hand on Adrian’s wrist.
    “Where are you going today?”
    Adrian hesitated. It was his day off, and Antoine knew where he was going.
    “To the gym.”
    Adrian spooned some more mush. Antoine squinted, a little burn of fire behind his glance, but took the food willingly.
    As Antoine was finishing his last bite of mush, the doorbell rang. Right on time. Adrian greeted Sheila at the door like the godsend she was. Without her, Adrian couldn’t survive this. She was a big, brown, no-nonsense woman. Once a week Adrian got this. Once a week to live like a normal person. Once a week without Antoine. Again the guilt. But he needed it. The counselor at the clinic said that he should get out of the house sometimes. Leave the sickness behind for a while and breathe the fresh air and do things that were just for him.
    “What the hell happened to you?” Sheila asked, pointing at the bandage on his forehead.
    “Oh, this.” He touched his bruise. “I had a little accident yesterday.”
    “You okay?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
    Adrian returned to the bedroom to pick up the tray with the empty dishes.
    “Is that Sheila?”
    “Yes.”
    “So you’re leaving soon?”
    “In a few minutes.”
    “When will you be coming home?”
    “Later this afternoon.” Sheila was on the clock for a full eight hours. Antoine knew that. He asked every week anyway.
    “Call me if he needs anything,” Adrian said to Sheila as she walked into the bedroom.
    “You know I will. Don’t worry, honey. We’ll be just fine.”
    Her toothy smile was the reassurance it was meant to be. Adrian kissed Antoine on the forehead.
    “I’ll be home soon.”
    Antoine didn’t say goodbye. He