"Someday, Dimitri."
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Jim Hawkins stirred awake when he heard a light tapping on his bedroom window. Living in Tortuga, he was used to constant noise coming from outside, but there was sound he always hoped to hear; tapping on his window in the middle of the night. He quietly got out of bed and snuck over to the window. It was dark outside, but a lantern hanging above the door on the house across from the alley provided a dim light. Jim slid open the window, then glanced behind him to make sure his parents hadn't heard him. Jim was eighteen, but sometimes his mother still treated him like he was a kid and his father had very strict rules. He'd get a lashing if he was caught sneaking out.
When he was sure his parents were still asleep, Jim jumped out the window. He was instantly seized and shoved against the wall. Strong arms held him in his place and a firm kiss landed on his lips. It was a brief kiss, but it still made Jim smile. He opened his eyes to see his boyfriend, Dimitri, standing in front of him with a playful look on his face.
"You're gonna get me in trouble," Jim told him.
Dimitri leaned forward and rested his forehead against Jim's. "What's the worst that could happen?"
"If my dad caught us, he'd kill me. Literally."
Dimitri brushed Jim's hair off his face. "Jim, when are you going ditch your old man and runaway with me?" There was still a hint of playfulness in his eyes, but Jim knew he was being serious.
"I don't know," he replied.
Dimitri straightened up. "We live in a place where everything is allowed and we're free to be ourselves. Yet, we're still keeping our relationship a secret because of your dad. He can't do anything if you're not living in his house."
Jim looked up at his boyfriend. He loved Dimitri, that much he was sure of. And he wanted to be with him out in the open. But his dad terrified him; he wasn't above beating Jim or Dimitri. He could break both of Dimitri's legs and not even think twice about it. The truth was he was more afraid of what his dad would do to Dimitri than to himself. But Dimitri was hard-headed and if Jim told him the truth he would insist he could take on his father.
Jim reached up and gently touched Dimitri's cheek. "Someday, Dimitri. I promise."
Dimitri gave him a flirty smile. "Someday what?"
Jim smiled back at him. "Someday I'm going to leave with you and kiss you in front of everyone."
"You don't have to wait 'till then to kiss me."
Jim pulled Dimitri's head down to his and kissed him. Dimitri's kisses were always firm and desperate, as if he never wanted to stop kissing him. Dimitri pressed his body against Jim's and slipped his hand around the back of Jim's head, entangling his fingers in his hair. Jim's heart raced and for a moment he wanted to just tell his dad to screw off so he could kiss Dimitri like this whenever he wanted instead of waiting until midnight and hiding in the shadows.
However, that night the shadows weren't enough to keep their secret hidden. In a flash, Dimitri was pulled away from him and thrown on the ground. Jim stared in horror as his dad stood over him.
"What hell is wrong with you?" his dad bellowed.
Jim squared his shoulders and pretended not to be afraid. "Nothing."
His dad punched him in the face. Jim stumbled. His bottom lip had gotten caught on his teeth and was now bleeding. He spit the blood out.
"Korso!" Sarah Hawkins cried as she came outside. "What are you doing?"
Korso didn't take his eyes off his son. "I just caught Jim kissing that boy."
Sarah's eyes grew wide as she looked at the boys. Korso hit Jim again. This time Dimitri sprung to his feet and punched Korso square in the jaw. Korso grabbed Dimitri by the hair and slammed his face against the wall.
"Dad, stop!" Jim shouted.
Korso let go of Dimitri and turned his attention on Jim. "Don't you dare call me that. I'm no longer your father. I will not be associated with a freak like you." He made his point clear by shoving Jim against the wall and punching him repeatedly in the face.
"Leave him alone!" Dimitri tackled him to the ground.
The two men fought each other, but Korso got the upper hand. He stood up and kicked Dimitri in the ribs. Dimitri cried out in pain.
"Korso..." Sarah said quietly.
Korso ignored her and turned back to Jim. "I want you out of my house. I never want to see your face again."
Jim was beyond angry at his dad. He wanted to lash out at him in anyway possible. "You're a coward. You beat up two unarmed boys just because they were kissing-"
Korso interrupted him by slamming his face against the brick wall. Pain shot through Jim's face and he could taste blood. Korso beat Jim's head against the wall over and over until Jim thought he would black out. Suddenly, Dimitri grabbed Korso and threw him against the wall. Before Dimitri could strike him again, Korso pulled out a knife and stabbed Dimitri in the stomach. Korso then turned towards Jim, with the bloody knife out in front him. Sarah quickly placed herself between her husband and her son.
"That's enough, Korso," Sarah demanded.
Korso glared at Jim, but let Sarah lead him back into the house. In an instant, Jim was on his knees beside Dimitri. Dimitri was still alive. He was lying on his side, coughing up blood. He then rolled onto his back and looked up at Jim. Jim tried to fight back the tears.
"You're going to be all right," Jim told him.
Dimitri gave him a weak smile. "You don't have to lie to me."
Jim put both hands over Dimitri's wound and put pressure on it to stop the bleeding. "We have to get you to a doctor."
Dimitri reached up and put his hand on Jim's face. "I'm not going to make it to a doctor, Jim."
Now Jim let the tears escape down his cheeks. "You have to. I can't lose you."
"Listen to me; I don't regret anything, Jim. You were the best thing that ever happened to me."
"I love you so much, Dimitri."
"I love you, too." Dimitri coughed up more blood.
"I'm so sorry," Jim whispered. "I should have left with you. If I had, this wouldn't have happened."
"This isn't your fault."
"Yes it is. I-"
Dimitri used what little strength he had left to pull Jim's face down to his and kiss him. Jim lied down on top of him, using his body to keep pressure on Dimitri's wound. Dimitri's kiss was weak and soft and it shook Jim to his core. He was really losing him. He could feel Dimitri slipping away with every moment of the kiss. But Jim didn't stop kissing him until Dimitri stopped moving. Jim gently moved back beside Dimitri. Dimitri looked up at him through half closed eyes.
"You were my everything, Jim," Dimitri whispered.
Jim cradled Dimitri's head in his lap and ran his fingers over his face. "Stay with me, Dimitri. I need you."
Dimitri didn't say anything. His eyes slowly closed and his body became lip.
"Dimitri?" Jim gently shook him. "Dimitri!" he cried out. "Please don't leave me."
But it was no use; Dimitri was gone.
...Dimitri was gone.
