So far away

Chapter 1: Finding out

It was a Friday afternoon. It was raining outside, as it rained most of the time in the capital of England. The band Dire Straits was in their recording studio recording a new album. Well, only drummer Pick Withers, rhythm guitarist David Knopfler and bassist John Illsley were there. John also had his soul mate Mark with him. However, this was not Mark Knopfler, but a certain Mark Keller.

Every person had a name on one of their wrists. John's was: "Mark F.K." John had met Mark shortly after he finished university and he was so happy to have found his soul mate. Pick's soul mate was called Amalia, but she didn't come to the studio very often because she worked as a primary school teacher. David hadn't found his soul mate yet, but it was a girl called: "Mary K.M." The band was sitting on the sofa in the studio, waiting impatiently for guitarist Mark Knopfler. The singer wasn't often late, but today he was 10 minutes late. John sat next to Keller and kissed him happily. The older man had pulled the bassist onto his lap and was feeling his butt. Pick and David rolled their eyes a little. But of course they were happy for the bassist too. It was only partly a little annoying that Keller was there at every band rehearsal. It took about 5 more minutes before the door opened and a soaking wet Mark Knopfler entered the studio. He was wearing black jeans and a T-shirt with black and red horizontal stripes. He also had a denim jacket dripping with water. Water was also running down his face because his hair was soaking wet.

"Where the hell have you been for so long?" Pick asked from his drum kit. Mark took off his jacket and threw it on the sofa next to John and Keller. Keller looked angrily at Mark. The two Marks didn't really like each other. In fact, they hated each other.

"Well, you know how things go." Mark said as he went to his guitar and put it on. His T-shirt was soaking wet and stuck to him like a second skin. David watched his brother worriedly.

"Take that off, Mark. You'll catch a cold." He said worriedly and tugged at Mark's shirt. The guitarist sighed and looked at him tiredly. "Have you been sleeping?" David asked his older brother when he saw the dark circles under his eyes. Mark bit his lip. The two brothers looked into each other's eyes for a while and David understood from Mark's facial expression alone what he wanted to say: Please, drop it.

But he didn't want to drop it. He took the guitar from Mark and put it back in the holder. "Take that off." Mark sighed and pulled the shirt over his head. Pick had got a towel, which he put around the singer's shoulders before turning up the heating. Mark stood in the studio in his wet jeans and sighed quietly as he looked over at John. The bassist had finally gotten up from Keller's lap and fetched his bass. Mark had a secret from John. A very important one. But he hadn't told anyone at all. The singer sighed, rubbed the towel over his hair and then picked up his guitar. They started to play a little. Nothing special. They had nothing else planned for today. After two hours, the friends put their instruments aside. Mark sat on the sofa, his eyes closed while his fingers played a soft melody on the guitar. David and Pick watched him, smiling. John stood in Keller's arms and kissed him eagerly until Keller noticed something about Mark that made him grin.

"Hey. John, honey. Can I see your soul mark?" He asked mischievously. John smiled at him and pulled back the sleeve of his shirt.

"Of course, darling." He reached out and showed him the letters he had come to love so much. It was a beautiful, curved handwriting: "Mark F.K." it said. "I love you, Mark." He hummed and kissed the black-haired man. Keller grinned and kissed him.

"What's your soul mate's name again, David?" He asked. The younger Knopfler looked away from his brother in confusion and looked into Keller's brown eyes.

"Mine?" Keller nodded. "Her name is Mary K.M." David smiled. "I think the K might stand for Kathrin."

"Have you met her yet?"