Page 111 of Waiting for Ru
“He’ll come round. I have ways of persuading him. I’m not suggesting we see each other all the time. We live a long way apart, but when we’re in Dorset, maybe we could meet up. You could come and meet Isla.”
“No one can know that—” Ru shot Jasim a desperate look.
Why not say it?“No one can know I’m gay,” Jasim said.
Caleb sighed.
“He’ll be killed by his family,” Ru blurted. “You can’t say anything. Please.”
“We would never betray you,” Caleb said. “You had my back and now I have yours. What’s gone before no longer matters. We only look forward.” He put his elbow on the table and held his hand upright.
Jasim wrapped his fingers around Caleb’s.
Caleb glanced at March. “You too.”
March put his hand over Caleb’s and they all looked at Ru who tentatively added his to Jasim’s.
The food arrived and Jasim was relieved he felt able to eat and even more relieved that conversation flowed so easily. Ru and Caleb made that happen and that in itself was a miracle, that the two most damaged people were the ones most able to let go of the past.
By the time the pizzas were eaten, Jasim was much calmer. The thought of seeing Caleb and March again didn’t fill him with horror.
“While we still have a drink, let’s make a toast,” March said. “To old friends.”
March glanced at Caleb, and Jasim was in no doubt that the only reason they’d meet up again would be if Caleb wanted it to happen.
“To new beginnings.” Caleb smiled at Jasim and Ru, and shot a look at March that appeared to be a mix of gratitude and reproach. Probably because March hadn’t smiled at anyone but Caleb.
“To meeting new friends,” Ru said, hope on his face.
“To fate.” Jasim’s contribution to the toast could be read in many ways, but he did have hope. Real hope.
Outside in the car park, March drew Ru to one side and Caleb stepped a little way away with Jasim. It felt unreal seeing Caleb again. Jasim had never thought it would happen. He hadn’t wanted it to happen and yet somehow now he was glad it had. The weight of guilt and shame that had lurked inside him had lifted a little. Caleb was happy. He was able to laugh and joke. He hadn’t stayed broken but had done something worthwhile with his life.
“This is weird…seeing you again,” Caleb said.
“I’m sorry. In all that happened, I never said that to you, but I am sorry.”
“Yet if you hadn’t seen that image of me, and wanted me, maybe I’d be dead. You started off doing the wrong thing, but in the end, you saved my life. I wish you’d not lied to March about what had happened, but I understand. Thank you for all you did. For the most dangerous thing. For the ID and the money. Thank you for Isla, for whatever you did to make that happen. If you don’t want to ever see me again, I understand that too, but let Ru call me if he needs to. He could do with a friend who truly understands. Don’t…hurt him.”
“I’d never intentionally do that.”Yet, aren’t I already hurting him?
“Was he…abused?”
“He says not, though he was beaten.”
“He might be lying.”
“I believe him.”
Caleb smiled. “Good.”
March came up and put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “We need to rescue my parents from the monster-who-never-sleeps.”
“Yeah, we better go.”
Ru joined Jasim as March and Caleb moved away.
“Good luck in the match,” March called out without turning back. “You going to win the cup?”
