Persistence

“Persistence”

By Stacy Galore

Chapter 6: Commencement

Theodore awoke to the sound of heavy rain pounding against
the windows that spanned the entire southern wall of his flat.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  The chill of morning sent a shiver over
Theodore’s bare skin.  He hesitated
to open his eyes because he understood the significance of the cold enveloping
his body.

Theodore was alone.

His eyelids rose slowly like a curtain, revealing the bleak,
grey morning and an emptiness where Draco had been last night – an
emptiness both in his bed and in his heart.

Though Theodore expected Draco to leave, he couldn’t help
but feel a sinking sensation in his gut from utter disappointment.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Additionally, despite the fact that he neverstyle='font-style:normal'> expected anything more from anystyle='font-style:normal'> of his lovers, Theodore still felt used and empty.

Even though Draco had already gone, there was no way to take
back what had transpired or to erase what Theodore now felt.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  The damage was done - Theodore had
already admitted his true feelings to himself last night.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  It had been festering silently like an
undiagnosed cancer in his body for ten years. Once again, Draco left a scar on
Theodore’s soul.  Only this time,
it had a name.

Love was not something one could turn on and off at their
convenience.

Theodore rolled out of bed, the sticky remnants of sex still
on his skin.  He retrieved his
underwear from the floor and slipped it on before collapsing into a melancholy
slump on the sofa.  He lit a
cigarette and prepared to transcribe the unbelievable events of last night into
his journal.  He poised his pen to
the paper and began to recall, in stark, blissful detail, everything Draco made
him feel.  And as the words amassed
themselves in his mind before spilling through the tip of his pen, the tears
began to fall.  It wasn’t an outpouring
of sadness, but rather a slow, mournful trickle seeping from the corner of his
eyes.  He closed the journal,
unwilling to relive the pain any longer.

This was a story Theodore could not bring himself to write.

He shuffled towards the bathroom, resigning himself to soak
away the lovers’ stain Draco had left on him.  He flicked on the light.  Affixed to the mirror was a little white envelope.

Dear Theodore,

I’m miserably inept with kitchen spells, as I’m sure you
are too.  I’ll be back with breakfast
and coffee.   No chocolate
croissants this time.

Love,

Draco

PS: I expect you to have showered by the time I return
because I intend to fuck you senseless.

Theodore looked into the mirror and smirked.

A/N: I must thank Megan once again for being the most
helpful beta ever! 

UPDATE: I've been writing a sequel to this story called "Persistence of Memory". Find out what happens after Draco and Theodore finally get together. Of course, it's angsty. http://hp.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600025091