A Love Song for the Sad Man in the White Coat by Roe Horvat

Author:Roe Horvat [Horvat, Roe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Published: 2017-12-14T18:30:00+00:00

3: The Secret Second Life of the Cruel Doctor Frost

—Old Town, Prague, January 2013—

The gallery was small and a little dodgy. It looked like it also served as a club. What kind of club Simon didn’t want to know. Still, he’d promised Lukas he’d come. The walls were damp, and there was dirt in the corners. The air smelled like stale smoke and mold. Tall bar tables were scattered in the suffocating, low rooms, and all kinds of artsy hipster types strolled back and forth, looking engrossed in world-changing disputes.

Simon stood in an alcove, enjoying a moment of peace. The wine was too sweet but better than nothing. He watched Matěj from afar as the young man eyed the curious objects with a satirical smile. Oblivious of the scrutiny, Matěj took a few steps backward, rocked on his heels and tilted his head to the side reading an inscription next to a piece of clay that looked like Willy Wonka’s hat. He shook his head a little, pivoted on his soles, and stalked to the next exhibit. He moved like a dancer. In the dark gray button-down and red Converse, he was as dressed up as Simon had ever seen him. With his sleeves rolled up, showing the intricate clockwork tattoo and an assortment of leather bracelets, he looked casual and comfortable.

Simon was worried about spending time with Matěj in public in case some other student or colleague saw them. Consequently, they didn’t come together. Matěj had barely nodded in Simon’s direction before he went off to tour the gallery.

Having paid his respects to the artist, Simon hoped he could disappear with Matěj in an hour or so. He felt giddy in expectation of another night together with his lover. Matěj treated life like delicious food, just like he appreciated Simon’s books and hummed around a beer bottle. The boy knew how to enjoy things, how to marvel at things, how to savor impressions, how to feast on a pleasurable moment to its maximum capacity. It was a singular skill, wildly to be admired. When Simon found himself at the center of the man’s attention, those were easily the happiest minutes of his entire life. Everything in between lost color.

He felt a familiar hand on his shoulder. Lukas put an arm around Simon’s neck—an admirable accomplishment since he was almost a head shorter.

“Eye-fucking straight men, are we?”

Simon smiled, keeping his gaze pinned on Matěj.

“Not straight.”

“Ah, what a wonderful day.” Lukas sighed, his smile stretching from ear to ear.

Simon snorted and drank more from his glass. Matěj, unaware of the attention he had attracted, stopped a few meters away from them in front of a sculpture of a huge ostrich head. He bent a little, his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. Simon could imagine what was going through Lukas’s horny head.

“And how did you acquire the priceless information?” Lukas asked.

“His name is Matěj.” Simon’s tone said more than his words.

“Simon, does your mother know you’ve got yourself a boy toy with a penchant for body modification?”

“She pretends I don’t have a libido.

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