Something previously written, from ALBFS
Hal shook his head, the movement barely noticeable. “No,” he whispered, “but Ennis, do somethin’ for me?”
“Sure, Hal,” said Ennis, “what do you want?”
“Kiss me…” he whispered.
Ennis looked at Hal, slightly surprised at the request, but figured it was easy enough to do. He rose up slightly from the chair and leaned over the bed, kissing Hal lightly on the forehead. He went to sit back down and Hal opened his eyes again. “On the lips…” he said, his voice barely audible.
Ennis hesitated for a second at this request. He had never kissed a man other than Jack before. But as he looked at Hal’s blue eyes he realized that he wanted to kiss this man. He held Hal’s face between his hands and leaned in, pressing his lips against the older man’s, feeling them soft beneath his own, lingering for a minute. He pulled back but kept his face close, looking deep into Hal’s eyes. “Yer a good man, Ennis,” whispered Hal. “I know why Jack loves you.” His eyes closed and his head seemed to sink back into the pillow, as if the talking and kiss had completely exhausted him.
Ennis sat down and picked up Hal’s hand again. He looked at his face then looked out the window. The storm seemed to be ending, leaving as quickly as it came. He watched, seeing the rain move across the field, heading east.
He pushed the window open again and the wind blew in, smelling of rain, and grass, and late summer thunderstorms. The sun broke through the clouds and there was a brilliant patch of blue sky and in the patch, a rainbow formed, arcing over the barn and across the sky, the end disappearing in the trees by the river.
Hal gave a shuddering breath and then Ennis felt a spark of electricity travel through his body. His head turned, almost involuntarily, and he looked at the rainbow. “Goodbye, Hal,” he said, then turned back to the Hal, realizing instantly that his life was no longer in his body. “Oh my God,” he thought, “Hal died and he left through me.” He put his hand over his mouth and tears started to run from his eyes and spill down his cheeks. He looked at the rainbow again. “Goodbye, Hal,” he whispered a second time.
Ennis sat there for many long minutes, still holding Hal’s hand and letting the tears run freely down his face, not trying to stop them, not wiping them away. Finally, the rainbow faded and the sun came out more fully, casting a pinkish-yellow light across the barn and the field. Ennis laid Hal’s hand down, and straightened the sheet across his chest. He stood up and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping his eyes and blowing his nose, then went out of the room and headed downstairs to find Jack.
(482 words)
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