The frozen lake cracked beneath his feet. He immediately felt the frozen water all over his body. He barely understands what is happening to him. He has no idea how to save himself. He is pulsating with the water trying to get out of it. However, all the hopes he had are slowly starting to disappear. He is closing his eyes hitting the ice for one last time.

I am walking down the corridor of school trying to avoid all these eyes that are judging me and put tags on my clothing. Cassandra, the girl that is the dream of every guy at school, pushes me forward and all my books are slipping out of my hands on the floor. I feel every single student staring at me, laughing and taking photos. “Don’t cry! Please don’t cry!” I repeat to myself as I am starting picking up my staff.

At this time, I can see a guy approaching me. He tries to help me with my books “Don’t mind them, Ravi, they are just being rude!” That voice. That beautiful soft voice of Ethan, the guy I fell in love with from the first time I saw him. The guy that probably doesn’t give a damn about me! I have no idea if he is into guys at all!

Ethan and I after this day we came closer and I started falling in love with him from the beginning. Even more! I got even happier when I realized he is into me as well. I don’t care about the kids at school anymore. It is just him and I!

After a few months of talking in a non-friendly way anymore, he didn’t even try to kiss me. He had a lot of chances. So I started losing every single hope I had. However, on my birthday party he finally did. His hands were on my waist and mine were caressing his long, soft hair. It was the most beautiful, sparkling moment of my life. It still is!

“I love you!” he told me on the first day of the summer. We had finished school and we were having the time of our lives. We both had done our applications for “Yale”, so we were even more excited because we knew that we didn’t have to break up due to our studies. “I love you more!” I answered. It was the most meaningful phrase I have told him since now. I don’t know why I haven’t said these words to him before.

All these months we haven’t made love, even though I think about it all the time. Today, after this love confession I know it is the right time. He feels this way too, I am sure! So it happened. We did it! He was so sweet to me. At first it was soft and then it became more tense. We are laying on the bed. I am in his arms feeling safe and warm.

The day we had to leave is even closer now and I am so excited to leave house. To leave my homophobic parents. To live free with Ethan, my love! Everything was perfect until I got home on the 4^th of July. My parents were waiting for me “What happened?” I asked. “We know about Ethan. About that bastard. What were you thinking Ravi? You are not like them. You are a man!” His words made my head aching and I felt my heart beating getting faster. I am now on the floor. I am bleeding. He made me bleed. My mom is trying to stop him. She finally managed to, but it is too late now. I can’t feel my body. It hurts.

My father decided that I won’t go to Yale, after he forced me to admit that Ethan will be there too! He also decided that what I am going to do is going to Italy at the University of Bologna. I hate that my parents are so rich and so powerful. They are feeling like they can do whatever they want. They can...

I am going to Italy… I am alone… I am… I am…

“He is waking up! He is waking up doctor Heckles!” said the nurse when she saw Ravi’s eyes opening slowly. To Ravi’s fortune, someone saw him falling into the freezing lake and helped him go out. However, Ravi had swallowed much water and the polite man had to take him to the hospital where they took care of him.

Ravi is waking up and he looks around trying to realize where he is and what is going on. He remembers himself almost getting drowned into the lake, but nothing more. At least from the real life. “It was just a dream!” are his first worlds after he woke up. Actually, it was not just a dream. This was his life. His memories from high school. That boy that gave light to his darkness!

Doctor Heckles is getting into Ravi’s room, ready to check on his patient. He can’t believe his eyes when he looks at him. “Ravi?”

Ravi stares at him like he would look at his major celebrity crush. “Ethan?” The nurse is looking at them curiously

“Do you know each other?” she asks.

“Nurse! I want to check on my patient!” said Ethan in a little demanding tone and the nurse does as she is asked.

“Are you feeling okay?” was Ethan’s first question.

“I hoped that you had more interesting things to say!”

“I have nothing more to say Ravi. It’s been like ten years!” he said and sat next to Ravi.

“I’ve never got over you! I know our break up was harsh, but I explained. I sent you a lot of letters!”

“What letters?” asked Ethan not knowing what Ravi is talking about. Ravi is feeling his whole body shaking and freezing. “You never sent me any letters!”

Ravi’s father made sure that any letter than was written by Ravi wouldn’t end up at Ethan’s address! Neither of them had any idea.

They talked about it for a while. Ethan admitted that he is getting married next month. He will be a lovely husband to an even more lovely wife. He will leave the life he was always dreaming.

Ravi said that he is in a happy relationship with a man in Italy. It was a lie. Ethan doesn’t know it. He couldn’t say that he is alone, he have never been in a serious relationship after him and he has no one in his life. He couldn’t humiliate himself to his first love. He doesn’t want to be with him. He wants him to be happy, even if that means he would be happy without him.

After all, who said that young love lasts for life?

Vasiliki Gkounta

@mmiaaa

Greece

Vasiliki Gkounta has not written a story.