Alex

Alex couldn’t stop thinking about what was happening to Jack. The thing was; he knew Jack was homosexual and he had learned that homosexuality was a sin, at least according to the Catholic Church. But Jack didn’t seem sinful; the one that seemed sinful was his boyfriend.

He got his laptop out and pulled up Google.

“domestic violence” was the first thing he searched for. There were a lot of definitions and examples but he wanted concrete figures.

“domestic violence US statistics” was better already. Alex’s eyes widened at what he read there. He was even more scared for Jack now. Numbers whirled through his head and he felt sick.

But what could he do? Show up at Jack’s house? Try and talk to him after mass again? Call the police? Alex decided to talk to Jack after the service again. He knew that time was important but for now, he couldn’t do anything, he calmed himself down. Well, maybe check Facebook for both Jack and Matt.

Jack… Barakat according to Ms. Welner. He typed the name into the search bar and found him. His profile picture was of him with someone else, Matt as Alex assumed. The guy held him tightly and the hand on Jack’s waist looked like a mark of possession.

Jack Barakat, 24 years old, in a relationship with Matt Flyzik. Aha. Alex clicked on the name and was sent to the profile of Matt. A slender but still sturdier guy than Jack, black short hair, dark eyes, lip piercing. He looked normal, nothing that would have alerted Alex. He went back to the picture of Matt and Jack. They were smiling but Jack’s smile looked kind of forced. Matt was grinning. In the background you could see a small house, similar to the ones in the close neighbourhood to Jack. Had this been taken around here?

Alex decided to go to sleep. He was exhausted. He would read his service tomorrow, hope that Jack would come and then he would talk to him.

As he drifted off to sleep, the usual memory splinters were there. Short little scenes, pictures even, of his past. They were mostly unpleasant memories of one specific event but Alex had learned to cope with them. He forced his thoughts to go in another direction and soon was asleep.

Notes

Aw Alex, what could those memories be?

And thanks so much for 3,000 views! I'm pumped about it! c:

-Laura