Love Across Time

Chapter 5

***May 2013

As Marvin confided in his father about his true feelings and the person he cared deeply for, Zeke found himself reflecting on his own emotions. He couldn't shake the pang of fear and uncertainty that gnawed at his own heart. He couldn't help but wonder about his own feelings towards his friend. The realization that Marvin had found someone special stirred something deep within Zeke's soul—a longing he had long tried to bury beneath the guise of friendship.

With a heavy heart, Zeke realized that he had been hiding his true feelings from Marvin for far too long, afraid of what might happen if he dared to acknowledge the depth of his emotions. But as he watched Marvin embrace his truth with courage and conviction, Zeke knew that he could no longer deny the yearning that pulsed through his veins.

In the quiet moments of introspection that followed, Zeke made a silent vow to himself—to find the courage to confess his feelings to Marvin, to lay bare his heart and soul in the hopes of finding solace in their shared connection.

And though the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, Zeke knew that he couldn't continue to hide behind walls of fear and doubt. With Marvin's unwavering love and acceptance as his guiding light, Zeke vowed to take a leap of faith, ready to face whatever the future held, hand in hand with the person he cared for more deeply than words could ever express.

As the weight of his unspoken feelings grew heavier with each passing day, Zeke found himself unable to bear the burden of secrecy any longer. With a trembling hand and a heart pounding in his chest, he dialed Marvin's number, his voice barely above a whisper as he asked, "Marvin, are you free to have dinner with me tonight? I have something important I need to tell you."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, filled with a tension that seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Then, finally, Marvin's voice came through, warm and reassuring. "Of course, Zeke. I'd love to catch up with you. How about our favorite restaurant downtown?"

Zeke's heart soared with relief at Marvin's response, a glimmer of hope igniting within him as he eagerly agreed to their dinner plans. With a sense of determination burning in his chest, Zeke resolved to finally lay bare his heart and soul to Marvin, to confess the depth of his feelings and the longing that had consumed him for so long.

But as the hours ticked by and the time for their dinner date approached, Zeke found himself growing increasingly restless, his mind swirling with a torrent of doubts and insecurities. What if Marvin didn't feel the same way? What if he rejected Zeke's confession, leaving their friendship irreparably damaged?

Despite his fears, Zeke pushed them aside, clinging to the flicker of hope that burned within him. With renewed determination, he set off for the restaurant, his heart pounding with anticipation as he prepared to lay bare his soul to the person he cared for more deeply than words could ever express.

Zeke sat at the restaurant, his gaze drifting to the empty seat across from him, he couldn't help but replay the countless conversations he and Marvin had shared over the years. Memories of laughter, shared dreams, and quiet moments of understanding flooded his mind, each one a poignant reminder of the bond they shared.

As he waited for Marvin to arrive, Zeke's mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions, his heart torn between hope and fear. "Maybe he's just running late," Zeke whispered to himself, trying to quell the rising tide of anxiety that threatened to consume him.

But as the minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity, doubt crept in, whispering cruelly in Zeke's ear. "What if he's avoiding you? What if he already knows how you feel and doesn't want to face it?" the voice taunted, its words echoing in the cavernous emptiness of the restaurant.