Silent Worlds || BOYxBOY ✔️

Seven

Monday morning dawned with a crisp clarity that Thomas had not felt in weeks. He awoke to the sound of his alarm, the harsh beeping pulling him from the remnants of a dream he couldn't quite recall. For a moment, he lay still, the familiar weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. But soon enough, he found the strength to push back the duvet and sit up.

After a quick shower, Thomas dressed in a comfortable pair of black jeans and a thick grey hoodie. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, noting the dark circles under his eyes and the paleness of his skin. He sighed, but instead of letting it bring him down, he took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. Today was a new day, and he was determined to face it with a bit more strength.

His phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket with a message as he was slipping on his vans. Surprisingly, it was from Nathan. "Good morning! :) Have a great day."

Thomas couldn't help but smile at the simple message. The pair had exchanged a total of 7 messages to each other over the weekend about things that didn't really matter. This was the 8th message. It's not like he was counting or anything.

He quickly typed back, "You too."

Gathering his books, laptop and keys, Thomas left his apartment and headed to campus. The walk was brisk and invigorating, the cool air filling his lungs and clearing his mind. As he approached the campus, the familiar sights and sounds began to fill him with a sense of normalcy. For once, he was actually content and happy to be here.

He arrived at his first class with a few minutes to spare and chose a seat near the back, just how he liked it. He preferred the anonymity it offered, allowing him to observe without being the centre of attention. The lecture began, but his mind wandered to thoughts of Nathan and their time together at the park and at the diner. And at the café. And then to their text messages. Maybe it was because Thomas didn't have any other friends, but he could feel himself starting to slowly give way for the dark-haired boy to enter his life. It had been so long since he felt a genuine connection with someone, and the realisation was both comforting and terrifying.

As the lecture progressed, Thomas took diligent notes, immersing himself in the material. It was a welcome distraction from his usual spiral of negative thoughts. The class ended in a blur. As students rushed out. Thomas took his time. He was in no rush.

On his way out of his usual lecture hall, Thomas passed by a familiar room. He halted in his steps and peered through the square glass on the door. The classroom was empty, and he felt a sense of belonging rush through him. Without giving it much thought, Thomas opened the door to the art studio that had once been his sanctuary in the past.

The studio was quiet when he entered, the smell of paint and canvas instantly calming him. The feeling of nostalgia crept up on him and somehow made him feel slightly emotional. Glancing around, he noticed it looked exactly the same. It's almost as if nobody really came in here or ever cleaned up. He liked it like this. Thomas used to love this room with all his heart. He would spend hours upon hours in here, often getting yelled at when he returned home for taking too long. It had been months, almost a year, since he stepped foot inside. He missed it dearly. He stopped coming to the art studio due to the fact that his face was painted black and blue more than the canvases. That was a dark time for Thomas. He clenched his jaw.

He found his usual spot and quickly set up his materials, the blank canvas before him a stark contrast to the chaos in his mind. He thought back to Saturday when he had tried and failed to paint in his apartment. Today, he was determined to create something meaningful.

He dipped his brush into the black paint, the familiar motion soothing. As he worked, his strokes were precise, the darkness of the paint reflecting the emotions he had been battling. But as the image began to take shape, he allowed hints of colour to seep in, representing the small glimmers of hope he felt after his time with Nathan. He added yellows, and greens, and blues. He added red. The image was taking shape and it left him smiling like a mad man.