When Life is Illegal- LGBT+ Short Stories

The Punishment is a Broken Heart

Fear. It seems to be the most powerful of human emotions. Khalid sits at a cliff's edge that sits at least thirty feet above the choppy waters below as if to prove himself stronger than it. He swings his feet back and forth as though he is calm, but in reality, his heart beats so hard it hurts. But he doesn't fear the sea.

A rustle comes from the trees behind him and his heart rate picks up. He turns to look over his shoulder and a smile spreads across his lips. "Daveed," he says softly as he stands carefully before speeding into his lover's arms. Gale rests his head in the crook of Daveed's neck and smiles through their embrace.

It seems so unfair that they have to hide in order to so much as see each other. It seems so unfair that these visits must be so brief and away from their homes. In a country where their love is illegal, little else can be done.

Khalid pulls away from Daveed's face and smiles, kissing the tip of his nose. "I've missed you."

Daveed smiles and takes both of Khalid's hands in his own. For a little over a year, these days have been his favorites. These days where they get to sneak into the woods for just a little while and be together, if only for a moment. "I've missed you, too. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come for so long with the crackdown on people like us," he trails off, his eyes becoming unfocused. The Saudi police have beat at least twenty gays to death in the past month in our area alone. They call it an epidemic, a plague that must be cleansed from their people.

Why holding Khalid's hand or kissing his temple would be an abomination, Daveed could never fathom. He smiles at his boyfriend softly, pushing the tragic topics aside to cherish these fleeting moments. "How've you been, what's life like on the northern end right now?" The two talk for only about ten minutes, holding each other for the sake of being close as they do so. That is all, but they must never tell.

Twelve minutes seems like a dangerously long time to disappear what with the killings going around. A number will never be released. The casualties are never deemed worthy of the attention.

Daveed grants Khalid one soft kiss, a valuable display of illegal affection before letting go of him. "I have to go. Work starts soon and I cannot be late. I promise I'll try and see you again as soon as possible, for longer next time."

Khalid nods in understanding. "Of course," he smiles sadly before waving Daveed goodbye. "I love you." A peaceful bliss overcomes him at the words. Why must it be so difficult to fund a way to express these simple things without punishment?

A light flickers behind Daveed's eyes as he waves goodbye. "I love you, too," he says softly.

As if the words themselves pull the trigger, a rapid firing of bullets fly in a haze from the tree line, Daveed's body convulsing with each perfect shot. Khalid lets out a deafening scream as he rushes to the fallen body, still and bleeding. He expects another round but hears kick footsteps instead. A police uniform bursts into view, gun raised as a baton. Khalid knows what is coming- the beating, the torture, the eminent death.

Khalid feels no fear. One thing is stronger than fear and that is love. When you mess with love, nothing overrides that feeling. When love is a crime the punishment is not death, the effect is not fear. No, the punishment is oppression, the effect is always either a depression or an uprising.

Khalid feels no fear, so he does not hesitate. He will not give the man charging toward hi the simple satisfaction of being his killer. Khalid puts his arms up as if in surrender and steps backward a few steps slowly until he can feel edge of the rocky cliff under his bare feet. With a smile etched deep into his features, he steps back once more. His step back is so slight that when he falls he hits his chin, his head snapping back so hard his neck is broken. He plunged into the depths below.

His body will not be retrieved. His name will not be spoken. His existence will disappear as if it never was for his name was only ever spoken in hearts and broken hearts don't beat. Daveed's heart no longer beats for the words he said of his own accord. No violence, no hate, no offense. He committed none of these. He simply loved.

But love is illegal here, and the punishment is a broken heart.

=C0q