Homecoming

"My oldest friend."

Cristian feels the warmth of those arms that wrap around him tightly, tears stinging his eyes. "I've missed you so much, and I never got to tell you that I am so sorry."

Suddenly, he feels lighter as the tears fall.
They run down his cheeks thickly; when was the last time he's cried?

"Cristian...the strongest of men still fall into the arms of temptation." That deeply wise voice sends shudders to racket his spine and rib cage, feeling the sobs beginning to fall from his lips. "I long ago forgave you...even before I came face to face with the inevitable."

His heart throbs; all he's ever wanted were to hear those words.

"Amor..." He pulls away to stare into those understanding brown eyes, full of nothing but tender acceptance. He shakes his head, averting his eyes in shame, "Amor...I was lost for all of those years after you left. I would dig deep inside myself to pull out that beautiful wisdom you gave me...and I would live by it every single day."

His best friend's beautiful laughter bellows through the air, it uplifts his heart and soul.

He smiles as he pulls away, resting his huge hands upon Cristian's shoulders, "My friend, don't you realize? I never left!" Cristian bites his lip as the tears threaten to fall at a faster pace, his throat keeping his heart in a choke hold. "Hermano bienvenido a casa." (Welcome home, brother)

He can't hold it back anymore.
Cristian leans into his best friend, tears streaming down his face...

...and lets go of everything.