You were sitting beside Derrick as the priest started talking about heaven and soul. It was Buddy Smart’s funeral, his dad. You knew that Derrick and his father had very different opinions of life and career, but they were still close even with the difficulties during the years. To watch your boyfriend struggle not to let the tears spill was harder than anything you ever had to do.

By the end of the funeral Derrick was standing close to his brother as the relatives payed him the respects. You could see that Derrick couldn’t take that scenario anymore, he was so full of everyone’s bullshit.

Slowly, you grab your boyfriend’s hand and takes him out of the church. He’s confused at first but his mind is so loaded and heavy right now that he doesn’t care. He just needs a few minutes. You take him to your car and drives away from that place of grief and pain.

You stop by this diner on the road and you look at Derrick. Normally he would be blasting rock music and singing to himself, not today. Not right now. All it takes is for you to place a hand on his shoulder and he breaks down. He lays his head on your shoulder and starts to sob like a child.

You’ve never seen Derrick cry and definitely not like this. He was holding onto your stomach like it’s the only safe place he has in the world. And maybe now it was.