Special Places

Written by Jodie for the ‘Corner’ Challenge on WL.

 

This had been his special place for as far back as he could remember. Care had been taken to ensure that access to it was never obstructed.

As a very small child, he would huddle into the junction of the two walls and face away from the room behind him. He felt safe in the belief that if he couldn’t see anyone, they couldn’t see him. As he grew older, it became a refuge from things that upset him. It was here he’d hunker down and wait out the storm on those rare occasions when his parents would get into a heated argument. There were no monsters here to frighten him.

Now as a mature and responsible adult, he still considered this his own personal space he shared with no one. A special place that in spite of everything he’d encounter in his job, continued to offer him safe haven from the world at large.

Fortunately, his life-partner understood this need and respected it. Even after several years living a discipline relationship, if a time for reflection was called for, this corner of his was never used. There were others available to serve that purpose.

Today had been horrific and Chandi badly needed the security and comfort of his special place more that he had since he and Eric got together, especially since his Top was unavailable.

Last year a young man in the community had gone to Seattle to seek his fortune. At some point in time, his e-mails to his parents began to dwindle until there were none at all. A missing person’s report had been filed and this afternoon, the Seattle police had contacted Chandi. It had been his unpleasant duty to inform the parents of their son’s death.    

‘Cops don’t cry!’ he had managed to convince himself. ‘At least not when they’re in uniform.’ Unsurprisingly the parents had been devastated and the young Police Chief had felt completely helpless in consoling them, particularly while working so hard to keep his own emotions in check.

He’d arrived home and immediately stripped out of his uniform, uncharacteristically leaving parts of it strewn about the living room before heading for one of the places he felt safest in.

Pressing his back into the corner, he slowly slid down the wall until his butt was inches from the floor and he was able to wrap his arms tightly around his bent legs. Getting his breathing under control, he closed his eyes, laid his head on his knees, and rhythmically rocked his tautly held body while waiting for the calmness he always found here to close in around him and disperse the demons.

This was where Eric found him more than an hour later. Jade Heights was a small place and news travelled fast. Eric knew what had taken place earlier and his heart went out to the sensitive man hunched in the corner. His Brat had performed a duty that most wouldn’t even want to contemplate.

Chandi sensed his lover’s presence and sadly raised his head, incapable of doing much more.

Eric squatted and gently ran the back his fingers down a tear-streaked cheek. The sadness he saw in the beautiful coffee-coloured eyes was almost his undoing. “Come with me, sweetheart,” he softly invited as he stood to help Chandi to his feet.

Cuddling together in a large recliner, Eric patiently encouraged Chandi to talk it out. It was a laborious, anguished filled process, but as always, well worth the effort. It ended with one emotionally depleted man zoned out in the arms of another who had readily stepped in and lovingly taken charge of the situation.

“They say things get easier the more we do them,” Chandi murmured, a lament of hopelessness tinting his voice. “I hope I never have to find out.”

Although there was no verbal response, the strong arms enfolding him squeezed tighter and clearly showed Eric’s agreement. Here with his Top was Chandi’s other special place. An asylum that provided an abundance of love and understanding, and protection from the worse life had to offer. 

Chandi fell asleep wondering not for the first time, if the day would come when he’d no longer have need of his special corner; if Eric’s arms would finally be the only refuge that was required to make him feel safe.

The End