Work Text:
When Blair was young, they had been in love. The nights they spent talking, walking together, and being together. They were childhood friends after all. Then something not as important or just as important came between them, and they didn't speak. Impulsively, he married a woman he thought he loved. Blair went and became bitter towards men .
Yesterday, walking across the street in New York's Central Park, he saw him for the first time in years.
“Blair Miller,” he said
He stopped at first. not noticing him, but he took a closer look, unable to recognize him He looked old and more tired.
“Lin! Where did you come from?”
Unconsciously, he lifted his hands for a hug a sweet embrace, but he held out a hand. He took his hand and shook it.
“I live in New York now,” he said
“”Oh”—smiling politely. Then a little frown formed quickly between his eyes
“I always wonder what happened to you, Blair. ”
“I'm a lawyer. at a nice firm downtown in Kirkland.”
“Married yet?”
“Yes. We have 2 dogs, no kids.”
“Oh,” he said.
A crowd of people went past them in the park. People they didn't know.it was late afternoon, the sun was starting to set, and rush hour was going to happen soon. Cold
“And your wife?” he asked him
“ we have 2 kids. I work as a gym teacher at Northwestern and the local coach of the football team.”
“Your looking very...” (He wanted to say old)”...ok,” he said
He understood. Under the street in Central Park, he found himself desperately reaching for the past. He was much older then blair back then in San Francisco. Now he wasnt very young at all. But Blair was still young.
“We live in Central Park West,” he said. “Come and visit us sometime.”
“ sure.” he replied, “you and your wife must have dinner with my family at night. Any night. Jet and I would love that.”
The leaves fell slowly from the trees in the park. Fell without wind, autumn dusk. He felt the sickness of guilt consume him little by little.
“We’d love it” he answered
“You have to see my dogs.” he grind
Suddenly the lights came up on the whole street of 5th avenue.
“Theres my bus.” he said
He held out his hand “ goodbye.”
“When…” he wanted to say, but the bus was ready to pull off. The lights on the avenue blurred, twinkled, blurred. And he was afraid to open his mouth as blair entered the bus. Afraid it would be impossible to utter a word.
Suddenly he shrieked very loudly, "Good-bye!" But the bus door had closed. The bus started. People came between them outside, people crossing the street, people they didn't know. Space and people. he lost sight of Blairl. Then he remembered he had forgotten to give him his address--or to ask him foi his--or tell him that his youngest boy was named Blair too.