The Morning After

Julian woke up alone.

He was in his own bed in the guest room. He sat up, his body aching in a way that felt good, a dull throb of memory. He smiled.

He found Elias in the kitchen.

Elias was fully dressed. He was wearing the black suit. He was wearing the collar.

He was scrubbing the countertop with a ferocity that suggested he was trying to scrub away the surface of the earth.

"Morning," Julian said, leaning against the doorframe.

Elias froze. He didn't turn around.

"The house is done," Elias said. His voice was ice. "I’ve signed the papers. The estate agent will be here at noon."

Julian’s smile faltered. "Elias?"

Elias turned. His face was a stone wall. His eyes were red-rimmed, but cold.

"Last night was a mistake," Elias stated.

Julian felt like he’d been punched. "A mistake? Elias, you said—"

"I was weak," Elias interrupted. "I let the grief and the heat confuse me. It was a lapse in judgment. A sin. I have prayed for forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?" Julian walked toward him. "For what? For loving me?"

"For fornicating!" Elias shouted, stepping back. "For betraying my vows! For acting like an animal!"

"You acted like a man!" Julian yelled back. "For once in your life, you were honest!"

"I am a man of God!" Elias touched his collar, as if checking it was still there. "This is who I am. I cannot be... that. I cannot be with you."

"You don't believe that," Julian said, shaking his head. "I saw you last night. I felt you."

"Last night is gone," Elias said. He walked to the door. "Leave, Julian. Go back to New York. Sell the house. Do whatever you want. Just... leave me alone."

"If I walk out that door," Julian said, his voice trembling, "I am never coming back. This is it, Elias. No third chances."

Elias gripped the doorframe. His knuckles were white. He didn't look back.

"Go with God, Julian."

Julian stared at his back. The hate surged again, hot and blinding, but under it was a heartbreak so deep it felt like dying.

"To hell with you," Julian whispered.

He went upstairs, packed his bag, and left.