It's not my best work but I think it stands out from my other stories.
When depression rears its ugly head, time stops. It burns your flesh and your skin becomes an empty shell. Tears break through the dam. As people rush by in a hurry, you stop just to think. You lie awake at night consumed by horrible thoughts. It kills your mind and your smiles. Your chest becomes tight and it’s hard to breathe. Not even tears can cure the pain that you feel. But for some, like Reginald Williams, time starts again. Wounds are partially healed. A new friend comes along with marriage vows. Children are born, and grandchildren.
Reginald was tired, oh, so very tired. He had been bed-ridden for several days. Time was slowing down for him, and it wouldn’t be long until it would stop completely. He knew that. He didn’t mind though. He had been waiting for this day to come for forty years. He was looking forward to being with his true love again. As the clock ticked on, he called his two sons to say goodbye.
“ Hi, Dad,” Alan whispered. He sat at the end of the bed, grinning from ear to ear to mask his grief. “ Sorry, I’m late. Arielle wanted help with the baby. He’s feeling rather poorly today.”
“ Sorry to hear it,” Reginald mumbled feebly.
“ Oh, he takes after his grandpa. He’s strong!” Alan replied, his voice shaking slightly as it became increasingly difficult to appear happy.
“ I’m glad I got to know him before…” the old man stopped to breathe. Alan gently fluffed up his pillow for him. A few minutes later, Reginald’s eldest son, Michael became in.
“ I let myself in!” he cried cheerfully. He walked through the bungalow to the bedroom. “ I got your shopping for you!” he lifted two heavy plastic bags and shook them.
Alan turned and gave his brother a pained expression. He was devastated to think that he was still thinking about running errands. Michael’s face fell as he understood. He solemnly went to put them in the kitchen. But he would just break down into tears. He prayed this day would never come. When Michael returned to the bedroom, Reginald saw fit to tell a story of his mysterious past.
“ I have something to tell you both,” he whispered hoarsely.
“ What’s wrong, Dad?” Michael asked. “ Aren’t you comfortable?”
“ It’s about…before I met your mum…I need you to know…”
“ What is it?” Alan asked, shooting Michael a worried frown.
Reginald paused to breathe deeply. His time was creeping up on him. “ Years before you were born, Michael…I was in love…when I wasn’t supposed to be…”
“ What, with Mum?” Alan asked curiously.
“ With my best friend…Alister,” he wheezed violently. “ We didn’t mean…for it to happen. It just did. We didn’t care. We were in love. We were open about our sexuality…” The sons looked at each other, bewildered. Their father continued his tragic story. “ One night, three men broke into our flat. We were in bed, sleeping. They laughed at us…and teased us. They called us names. Nothing could’ve prepared me…” He paused, not to breathe, but to cry. Tears trickled down and dripped onto the mattress.
“ Are you OK?” Michael asked, stroking his father’s face softly.
“ Yes,” then he continued. “ One man took out a gun and shot me in the leg…”
“ So, that’s how you got it,” Alan said quietly. He referred to Reginald’s injured leg that never healed, which caused him to use a cane.
He nodded slowly. He wasn’t proud of this injury. It was a constant reminder of the night of tragedy and fate.
“ What happened to Alister?” Michael asked.
“ The man with the gun…laughed and told me…I deserved it, then he…” Reginald choked back tears. He didn’t like his family to finally see his true emotions.
“ Cry, Dad. It’s OK now,” Michael lovingly stroked his arm.
“ You don’t have to be embarrassed now,” Alan added with a sad smile.
“ He…shot Alister in the chest…It was all blur…” Reginald burst in tears. “ Blood stained the bed...I tried to save him! I tried everything! But he was long gone.” Tears blinded him and he moaned in despair. He wriggled and howled. Michael and Alan didn’t know what to do. “ I never stopped loving him…But those men were right. I did deserve what they did to me.”
“ Don’t say that!” Alan snapped. “ You have a family who loves you. You deserve that!”
“ No, I don’t. When I met your mum…I loved her like a friend. I couldn’t tell her about Alister. I had to prove to myself…that I was being foolish so I married her…I wasn’t happy…not once. When you kids came along…I wanted to die…I belonged with Alister and I always will.” He wheezed and continued to weep. “ You have to go!” he hissed, finally.
His speechless sons hugged him and kissed his cheek. They left as quickly as they could. Alone again, Reginald was left to grieve. He cried until he was too tired to do any more. He fell into a deep asleep. In the darkness, he saw Alister beaming and laughing.
“ Why don’t you come with me?” he asked through his chuckles.
“ I can’t! I need to let go first!” Reginald’s echoing voice hollered.
Then Alister whirled around and raced off in the opposite direction, still laughing hysterically. Reginald wouldn’t lose his friend again. He began to chase after him until he was close enough to embrace him. They kissed passionately.
I miss out words all the time 
