Ave Maria

Chapter 33

Chapter 33 – My Truth

Omniscient

Chris' eyes moved between the two unknown men and Darren. He finally noticed the tears on his face and made his way over to him. He stood directly in front of him which got his attention. Darren's breathing was very unsteady and he was very close to having a panic attack. Chris looked around at the different employees now crowding the front area.

"Get your asses back to work!" They quickly scattered and his attention was on Darren.

He placed a hand on his shoulder and Darren raised his head to look at his boss. He tried his best to blink his tears away but that didn't help him at all. More water works just seem to stream down his face, his lip quivered and Chris felt extreme sympathy for the young man. He wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into his chest.

The tears soaked through his shirt but he could care less. He looked to Darren as not only someone he works closely with but as a younger brother. He cared deeply for him and was going to make sure he was okay.

"Y'all need to leave right now." He spoke calmly to the two men that stood behind of him, watching the interaction between the two.

"I ain't going no fucking where until I see my son!" Darren Sr. quickly protested. "You see him now you can leave." Chris spoke sternly. He looked behind the man who just identified himself as Darren's father to see paparazzi across the street recording the whole encounter. He shook his head then turned back to Halley who stood behind the reception desk.

"Get security to escort these people out." He instructed her then moved towards the entrance to the hallway. Darren was now standing beside him with one hand around his back as they walked to Chris' office.

>>>

Chris poured a glass of Hennessey and placed it in front of Darren. He could see the tension within him and just thought he could loosen up and relax a little bit. Darren took the glass and took a sip. It burned on the way down but he stuck it out.

"So what happened man?" Chris asked sitting next to him. He was drinking vitamin water since his doctor recommended it for him.

Darren took another sip, this one larger than the first. He closed his eyes then slowly opened them with his focus on the poster covered wall that was in front of him. He was trying his best to find the right words so he wouldn't give Chris the wrong story.

"When I was 15, my mother left for Afghanistan so it was only my brother and I. He was 22 at that time and we was struggling but we was making it." He inhaled deeply to get his emotions under control before continuing.

"Unexpectedly, my father got released from jail two weeks after and my brother agreed it was best for him to stay with us. Granted, I have no idea who this man was but the only thing I knew was that we had the same name." Chris listened to the softness in Darren's voice and knew he was picturing everything he was saying. He was reliving that time of his life, dark and full of pain.

"Growing up, I was never the average masculine male. I was into things that seemed "feminine" or "gay". I always knew I like men but I just never acted on it because I never wanted to give people that power over me...to dictate my life but in the end I still proved them right." He chuckled as he wiped the tear from his left cheek.

"It was a Thursday afternoon, and my boyfriend and I were chilling in the house. He was older than me and I just wanted to experience something new for once in my life. So we kissed and in the moment my father barged in. He caught us and things took a turn for the worse. He scared the boy off and turned to me with so much disgust in his eyes I felt like I was a piece of shit to him. He grabbed me and dragged me up the stairs and..."