The Lonely Date: MM Contemporary Romance Novella (Pursuit of Love) by K. C. Carmine

Author:K. C. Carmine [Carmine, K. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-10-06T16:00:00+00:00

Two weeks passed with Brian sleeping and refusing to get out of bed except to wobble to the loo. Alice visited from time to time, running her gentle fingers through his hair. Instead of soothing, the touch was annoying, only reminding him that he didn’t feel like fooling around with her. At one point, he reminded her that he wouldn’t mind if she hooked up with someone else. After all, their relationship had never been exclusive in theory, but seeing relief in Alice’s shoulders at his words was quite a slap on the face, nonetheless. It was still shit to become a faulty piece of equipment because he couldn’t be in the mood to fuck.

His flatmates brought him magazines and takeout, staying a moment longer to tell him about their day. Brian was grateful to all of them, he truly was, but he was too furious at the world to show it, remaining resentful of the chatter about him getting better. His friends encouraged him with stories of professional footballers who, after suffering similar injuries, returned to playing eventually. Brian knew those stories from magazines. Those players had never returned to their former glory, either physically or career-wise. Their fame had died down, even if their body had healed.

It was possible that Brian’s knee, after surgery and rehabilitation, would work well, but he was sure that neither his physical form nor his headspace would ever be the same. No one understood what he was going through and he was too tired to explain. He’d always been a dreamer, but it was time to stop being so naïve.

Days came and went even though his leg felt better, the bleak vision of his future was like a boulder on his shoulders, pulling him down, making dark thoughts swirl in his head.

He knew what it was.

He’d struggled with bouts of depression since his teenage years, so hiding the darkness in his head was a skill he’d mastered quite early, by having a smile on his face, neat clothes, and vibrant social life. Since he’d never been suicidal, all his doctors told him to take his time and stay positive, encouraging him that he was doing exceptionally well.

If they’d only known.

With clarity way too intense for his comfort, Brian could still remember the days following his ankle injury three years ago.

His parents took him home to recuperate, to rest in the comfort of his own room. Surrounded by posters of successful players, stacks of football magazines, memorabilia and awards, he felt like every single item had been mocking him, telling him that he wasn’t good enough and never would be.

After a week, his parents had to return to work, and his siblings continued to go to school as normal, leaving Brian alone in the house, with plenty of food, snacks, and video games. He had no interest in any of those.

Instead, he crept to his parents’ room. With his ankle nearly back to normal, he felt like a fraud, but he had plans and was determined to realise them.

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