When The Night Falls

Fifth Nightfall

Fifth Nightfall

"P'Ben!"

"Run, Beau! We can't save them! Just run!"

"But P'! The baby. There was a cry. Someone is still there..."

"Come on! I need to keep you safe. They will find me and they will find you, too."

"P'Ben, you have a shot on your leg. I need to wrap it. Hold still.”

"Alright...that's enough. Let's keep running."

Bang! Bang! Bang

"P'Ben!!!"

"F-f**k! This is already ruining our moonless night even more."

"P'Ben, there! Let's hide there!"

"Beau... You have to run... Away from here..."

"I am not leaving you!"

"Baby... Just...just run! Now!"

...by

...aby...

...baby...

...baby, wake up."

"Haa...haa...haa...P'! P'Ben!"

Beau suddenly sat up on the bed where he was lying down, squirming, and panting through his nightmares.

"Shhh...It's okay, baby. It's okay." Prama comforted the young man, whispering reassuringly in his ear.

"It's okay, Beau. It's just a dream." Beau's fiance rubbed his back gently, hugging him close as if to keep his young lover from the harms of his past.

The past that keeps haunting Beau even after four years. More so as the anniversary of the events is fast approaching.

Beau hugged Prama back, clutching tightly as he began to sob. His chest hurts as if the dreams were real.

They were.

"Shhh...I'm here, baby love. I'm here." Prama felt the clutch from Beau's fingers in his shirt at his back. "I'm not going anywhere, baby."

Beau's grasp became tighter against the older man. The only man he shows all his vulnerability. 

Beau is strong in front of everyone. He can be weak but he hides it perfectly.

Prama kept rubbing Beau's back planting soft kisses on his hair and temple.

"I love you, Beau. I'm always here." Beau sobbed even harder. He nodded against his fiance's shirt.

"Thank you..."

"Morning, baby... I made you breakfast." Prama welcomed Beau with a morning kiss soon as the latter came in from the backyard and into the kitchen.

His lover goes for a morning swim every time he had bad dreams the night before.

"You too, babe." Beau took the change of clothes from Prama and took it to the guest bathroom on the first floor.

When he came back, they both started eating. It's a Saturday. Prama has all day to pamper Beau.

Beau's shift starts late in the evening today. He is somehow thankful because it means he will be able to avoid the bad dreams.

"You're not dropping by at the office today, babe?" Beau asked Prama as he sipped his cappuccino. Prama especially made it for him.

"Nope. I'll be home all day with you." He winked at Beau while he drank his own coffee. Three sugars, one creamer.

Beau got off his seat and made his way behind his fiancé's chair. He snaked his arms and wrapped them around the older man's neck. Beau placed his nose then his mouth on his handsome and tanned skin lover's ear and whispered something.

That earned him a laugh from the older guy. Beau laughed, too.

Beau has a way with words. Times like this Prama forgets his worries.

The love of his life. Beau. If only he could make this laugh last forever for both of them

Beau's nightmares are occurring more and more often and more vivid. It scares Prama.

Every year as December comes near, Beau becomes someone else. He becomes colder. Distant. Unavailable at times. His eyes would always be beautifully black but lack the shine on them. Looking at someone but isn't really.

Beau had seen a couple of therapists before which Prama insisted. Beau was happy to do it.

The therapy sessions went on as Beau went through his second year of medical degree. It helped lessen the occurrence of past haunting during his sleep.

The year before that, Beau lived on almost blindly. And numbly.

Beau is smart. Street smart. Book smart. Even as he spent his life being a Casanova when he was a freshman, his grades were on top.

He graduated top of his class, too.

It may appear as though Beau is strong, not a single worry in the world, deep inside he carries a huge burden.

The burden that Prama helped him carry. Without his older fiancé, Beau might have already acted carelessly.

What does Beau want?

What did he plan to do soon as he was back on his feet?

Who was it that he wanted to meet?

These are some of the questions Prama already knew the answers to. He is just doing his best to keep Beau at bay and live happy. Happier.

He can't let his young lover fall into darkness. He can't let him be eaten by his nightmares every time the night falls.

________________________________