WHEN YOU SPEND all your time forced to experience the world below from up in the sky, you learn to cherish even the smallest things.
It would be incorrect to say that Orion had never witnessed the things that make up the human experience. He consistently heard words of joy, pain, and even guilt as an illuminating light, and what was the human experience if not full of heartaches and heart-throbs?
Orion knew a lot more than he would ever let on. For example, every word muttered under William's breath could be heard by him. This was also how he observed life on Earth from a distance. His super hearing and super sight, were what convinced him that he had somehow lived the human experience as best as he could.
The only thing that he felt like he was missing, was knowing what it truly felt like to have reciprocated love. To have William love him the way that he loved the man.
It might have been cruel to continuously shoot across the sky in front of William and Christian in hopes that William would make a wish. Orion figured that although it could be interpreted as evil, William and Christian were not a good fit in the first place. If William chose to make a wish, that would be his decision.
Orion hadn't disliked Christian. Christian was smart, handsome, and charismatic in all the right ways. The only thing that Orion had found irritating about him, was the fact that he tooâhadn't loved William at all and that Christian hadn't realized this.
Apart from that, both William and Christian were the same. They were too similar in all the wrong ways. Their similarity was so foolish, that it was like it was causing them to repel each other. For some reason, neither of the men could see this.
William was obsessed with his astronomic research, and Christian was obsessed with his art. Both of the men appeared to have no interest in partaking in or entertaining the others' interests, to the point that it was clear they were living drastically separate livesâtogether.
Orion could see the irritation on Christian's face each time the couple went star-gazing. Every time William would turn away, his face would morph downwardsâas if the taste of sour candy was embedded into his tongue.
Orion's fingers drummed in his lap. What would he do if Christian came back? What would he do if William made his last wish? Orion had absolutely no clue, and that was what scared him. He had only one shot, and the unfortunate desire of a shooting star who longed to be with a man. Maybe it was time for him to be honest. Lay all his true desires on the table, and tell William that he was serious about wanting to be with him.
And then, there was a knock on the door. The sound of repetitive knocking resembled the tick of a timer that was within its last few seconds.
Orion was pulled out of his thoughts as he watched William move towards the door. He lifted his head, and his body stiffened as he saw the face of the man that he had been dreading to see.
Christian looked at Orion blankly. William had finally gotten what he wanted. Christian had come crawling back to him, and was leaning against his doorframe right at this moment. Orion could only look at the man with fear. It wasn't enough time. In no way did he think it was fair for a star that burned for eons to receive only a few moments with the man that he loved. Ironically, he cursed the universe.
"William," Christian let himself inside, "can we talk?"
"About what?"
"About us."
Christian's eyes gravitated towards Orion seated on the couch, and the look Orion gave him was that of a man ready to beg.
William glanced back towards Orion, following Christian's line of sight. "Whatever you need to say, you can say it in front of him, Chris."
"I thought that you didn't love me," Christian cleared his throat, "because you never wanted to spend time with me if we weren't doing something you enjoyed."
William raised an eyebrow.
"But," Christian continued, "I know that what we had was special. We've been together for years, William. All the time I've spent without you has felt like hell so far."
Lies. I hope it's all lies. Orion bit the inside of his cheek.
"So why didn't you just come back?" William said as his voice slightly rose. "It's been weeks, Chris. Literally weeks."
Christian's eyebrows furrowed as he cocked his head to the side.
"Why did you move on?" Christian referred to Orion, "The picture you posted made me feel like I had already been replaced!"
That left a bitter taste in Orion's mouth. He liked Will and wanted to be with him, but did he want Christian to be in the back of William's mind every time he looked at him? Orion had never thought of becoming a replacement before, but now that he had, he did not like the idea.
William crossed his arms. "My sister told me, you know."
"Told you what?"
"You're seeing someone too. She saw you guys at an art gallery."
Christian took a step back. "Jesus, she's talking about Henry."
"And who's Henry?"
"Baby, I told you I was getting a new manager. You know how important my work is to me. A...friend told me that Henry could make me well-known."
William hummed in understanding. Orion could see Christian smiling, and that was when Orion stood up, and stalked over to them.
Orion forced a smile. "Nice to meet you, man." He said as he stretched out his hand for a handshake.
Christian stared down at his hand and narrowed his eyes.
The two men stared at each other silently before William stepped in. "Chris, this is Orion, someone I'm.... seeing. And Orion this is Christian, my ex I told you about."
"Where did you meet William?" Christian abruptly asked.
"At the library."
"And you decided to approach him while he was researching or reading?"
Orion clenched his jaw. "How could I not? Have you seen him?"
That made William smile.
Christian scrunched his nose. "What do you even know about him, huh? It's been like what, a few weeks that you've been seeing him?"
"I figured that we would become good friends, and maybe even more than friends afterâ"
Christian shook his head. "William doesn't like to make friends. And, William doesn't like expanding his circle. I think that you would be a big change, yeah? So maybe you should just step out of the picture."
A lump formed in Orion's throat due to the sudden aggression. His eyes flickered to William's and William's eyes were wide and empty. He was thinking. Deciding. Was it time for him to make his last wish, and send Orion away?
William cleared his throat. "Christian, it's getting kind of late. I'll call you to talk about this later."
Christian walked towards the door, turning around once he was in front of it to glare at Orion. "You're gonna send him home too right?"
"Uhm.." William tried to think of an excuse, "he doesn't...have one?"
Christian scoffed amusedly as he shook his head, and walked out the door.
Once the door was shut, silence filled the room as Orion watched a gigantic grin spread across William's face. He was overwhelmed with joy. His greatest wish came true. He was happy and he was beaming, but it was at the expense of Orion's sorrow.
Suddenly, Orion couldn't hold it in anymore.
"I don't want to leave, Will."
William's satisfied expression turned into one of confusion. "What?"
"I really don't."
William stared at Orion in thought. Orion felt his stomach churning, anticipating what William was going to say.
William shook his head and pulled his phone out of his pocket to stare at Christian's contact. "I'm sorry, I have to think abouâ"
Orion cut him off and walked towards his guest bedroom door. William started reaching out a hand. "Wait, are you oka-"
Orion flung the door open and shut himself inside. He needed time to think.