Bright Squares on the Bedroom Floor

They’d done this countless times with the position switched – Billy on Steve’s shoulder, shouting, crying, releasing words of anger and sadness. Billy’d come a long way in the last five months since his return and Steve was there with Billy through it all, in the trenches with Billy’s anger, grief, sadness. Under the harsh lights, Billy clutched Steve tight and Steve held him close – took deep, steadying breaths. Billy walked them back against the lockers and the pressure against his back and Billy’s body against his chest back felt good.