March 5, 1979

 

The door was massive, metal and looked like a dungeon door from some fantasy movie. Dan believed unswervingly that Jake was beyond the door, maybe locked in another cell like this one. For a very long time he could hear Jake’s voice. He could not make out what he was saying but he knew Jake had been talking to him. In recent times, though, there had been nothing but silence. Jake’s voice had been so soothing and reassuring but since it had stopped, all Dan knew was he had to find some way to open or break down the door. He did not know who had imprisoned him or why but he knew he needed to escape.

 

It seemed like an incomprehensible amount of time had passed him by, as he consistently returned to and pounded on the door. His actions seemed so pointless because he was not even making a dent or causing a scratch. The door was impossible, immovable and unbreakable against his bear hands. As for time, he never knew what time of day or night it was but he knew it felt unending.

 

With an expression of futility, Dan turned away from the door and looked around once more. He was alone in a cell, the walls, floor and ceiling were made of rock and there were no windows or any other escape but the door. Though he could find no place for light to enter, still there was just enough light for him to see and to make out the emptiness of his surroundings. The only other thing in the cell with him was a log. One side had been cut, making the top a flat surface. He slept on that surface and he sat on it but the log was huge and heavy and even his weight did not make it move.

 

Frustrated by his imprisonment and his enforced separation from Jake, once again he wished for a pick to dig a hole in the rock beneath the door. He knew it was a pointless wish but there was no implement of any kind in the cell to use and nothing to even craft into a tool. There was nothing except for the log.

 

He had tried to think of a way to use the log on so many occasions but it was so long, large, heavy and immovable, he had given up considering it all together. Due to his yearning to see Jake, though, with a sigh and without a plan, he walked over to try to move it.

 

Approaching one end of the log, he wrapped his arms around it and pitted his strength against it. In a single moment, as he pulled while pushing his feet against the wall, it budged. He stopped what he was doing and looked at it disbelievingly. Only his eyes could convince him of his success. He stared at it but then he gripped it again and went back to work, continuing with every ounce of strength he had.

 

To Dan’s great surprise, eventually he made a space between the log and the rock wall. He forced himself between them and again he pushed. Yet again achieving movement, he gained more space and then with his back to the wall, he used his legs and forced the log a much greater distance.

 

Hours went by as he worked and finally he had moved it maybe one and a half metres. He was exhausted and so he lay down along the flat surface of the log and fell into a restless sleep.

 

Every time Dan fell asleep he was assaulted by a nightmare. It was always the same, as water began to fill the cell. He would wade as it got deeper and he would float upwards until his head touched the ceiling. Eventually he would be left with barely a few centimetres of space to breathe and after a final breath, he was submerged and sure he was going to drown. The panic was overwhelming but finally he would awake soaked in sweat. This time when he awoke, once again he had no idea how much time had gone by but with only a single goal in mind, he started working again.

 

Caring only that he had to get out of this lonely place and find Jake, in spite of his exhaustion, he continued to struggle to push and pull the log. It occurred to Dan that he was not strong enough to lift the log into his arms and use it as a battering ram but as he took a break and considered his total lack of options, he continued to try to come up with an idea to use the log to escape.

 

While sitting on the uncomfortable rock floor, he glanced at the rear, rock wall. He then looked at the length of the log and the depth from the door to the back wall. It suddenly occurred to him that if he could push one end of the log into the centre of the cell and then somehow lift the other end and lean it against the wall, perhaps he could eventually push the log vertical. If so, he could then push it and let it fall against the door. Maybe its solidness and incredible weight could knock down the door or push it open.

 

Dan rested a little to regain his strength and then he went back to work. He had no idea how he came to be where he was but somehow it did not seem to matter. He felt only one driving force. He had to get to Jake.

 

What seemed like many days went by but finally half of his goal for the log had been achieved. One end of the log was on the ground at the centre of the room and the other end was leaning against the rock wall. It had been an incredible struggle to lift even one end of the log off the ground. Slowly, though, he had eventually done it. Dan thought this last part was going to be even harder than what he had achieved. He had to find every ounce of hidden strength within, to not only hold onto the log but to also keep it steady and balanced while he pushed it straight up and down.

 

Another long period of time fell into the past. Several times Dan lost his grip but was able to force the log to fall back against the wall. He thought if he let it fall to the ground, he would never get this far again. He was taking another rest but as he sat on the uncomfortable rock floor, suddenly, for the first time since beginning the task, he began to believe and he thought he could succeed.

 

Moving back into position, he pressed his hands against the flat surface, which was pointing toward the ground. He angled his body toward the log and pushed his shoulder against it. He dug his feet into the ragged and dirt-covered surface of the floor. With all his might he pushed and the top of the log moved away from the wall and began to rise into the air. Dan felt like his body would split apart or like it would explode from the weight that was fighting against his effort. He was perspiring heavily and breathing heavily but his mind was focused and he would not give up.

 

The moment finally came. As the log was rising higher and gravity was less a foe, the weight suddenly eased and the log began to rise without extreme effort. With less strength required, he forced the log perfectly perpendicular to the floor. His whole body came into contact with the log and his arms embraced around it, holding it tight but still. He puffed like he barely had any breath left and for a few moments he tried to find a still within.

 

When his breathing was more regular, he tilted his head and looked around the log. He could see the door and he knew exactly where and how to push until the log’s momentum would send it crashing, finally releasing him from this dark and silent place.

 

“Jake, I’ll see you soon,” Dan said and then he pushed.

 

The light was blinding as Dan opened his eyes and he called loudly, “Jake?”

 

Stunned, Carol Murphy stood up from the bedside chair and stared in disbelief. Her smile was a mother’s smile, with relief and love pouring from her eyes. David Murphy stood up on the opposite side of the bed, a newspaper falling from his lap to the floor. He smiled also but almost immediately, he processed his son’s first word after four months of silence. He was happy his son was alive and awake but the anger and even disappointment at the name Dan had spoken, devoured him intellectually.

 

“Mum? Dad? Where are we? What’s happening?

 

“Dan, everything’s going to be okay and you’re okay,” Carol said.

 

Dan looked around and then asked, “Why am I in a hospital? What happened?”

 

David asked curiously, “Don’t you remember?”

 

Dan shook his head, as he looked back at his father confused.

 

“Go get a nurse or a doctor,” Carol said and David nodded and left the room.

 

“I thought...”

 

Carol queried, “What, Dan, what did you think?”

 

“Um, nothing, I just thought I was going to see Jake but um... Mum, tell me what’s going on.”

 

“Dan, something happened and you were hurt but you’re okay now. I think it might be best if we wait for a doctor to talk to you,” Carol replied.

 

“Is Jake okay?”

 

“Yes Dan, Jake’s fine but now is not the time to be concerned about Jake. Your father will expect you to consider only yourself and answer all of the doctor’s questions. You and I can talk about Jake later when we’re alone, okay?”

 

Dan looked at his mother with a very curious expression but then he nodded. Almost immediately following, the door opened and David, followed by a doctor and a nurse, walked in.

 

“Hello Dan, I’m Doctor Robinson,” a tall, brown-haired man with a weird face and a long nose said, before walking to Dan’s side.

 

The doctor took Dan’s pulse, listened to Dan’s heart and lungs with his stethoscope and then asked, “Dan, how are you feeling?”

 

“I feel fine, maybe a little groggy but more than anything I’m confused because I don’t know what happened or why I’m in hospital,” Dan replied.

 

Doctor Robinson nodded at Dan and then glanced across at the only machine that was continuing to monitor his condition. He then looked at the clipboard and scanned through the remarks and the readings that had been written down. He laid the clipboard down on the bed and then checked Dan’s eyes with a torch, flashing the light to and fro while watching the dilation of his pupils.

 

Standing upright, the doctor asked, “Dan, what’s your last name?”

 

“Murphy,” Dan replied, looking at the doctor confused.

 

“How old are you, Dan?”

 

“I’m fifteen. I turned fifteen a couple days ago.”

 

“What month is it?”

 

“November.”

 

“One final question; what year is it?”

 

“Nineteen seventy-eight!”

 

Dan thought, “Have you ever heard of a calendar?”

 

Turning, Dan glanced at his mother like the man was an idiot but she gave him a reassuring look and he returned his gaze to the doctor.

 

The doctor said, “Well, young man, I would say that unless you experience anything out of the ordinary over the rest of today and tomorrow, it seems you might soon be ready to go home.”

 

“I feel fine and I’d like to go home now,” Jake said.

 

“Dan, you were involved in a very serious incident at the beach and not only could you have almost drowned but you’ve been in a coma for the last four months. It is, in fact, the first of March, nineteen seventy-nine. I understand your discomfort as well as your desire to return to your normal life, however, I would think, just to be on the safe side, we should keep you here overnight and maybe take a couple more scans to make sure all is well with you. It’s for the best and I’m sure I can promise you’ll be home very soon.”

 

Dan said, “A coma?”

 

“Yes,” the doctor replied.

 

With vague memories of being locked in a room made of rock and certain memories of hearing Jake’s voice, Dan said, “But…”

 

“Dan, the doctor has told you what he wants and what he expects of you and there’ll be no argument. Do you hear me,” David interrupted with an authoritative tone.

 

“Yes Dad,” Dan replied.

 

Doctor Robinson withdrew a pen from his pocket and a small pad from another pocket and then wrote something down. He then tore the page from the pad and as he turned to the nurse he said, “Julie, could you get these scans appointed straight away, please.”

 

“Yes Doctor,” the nurse replied and then left the room.

 

Doctor Robinson looked first at David and Carol and then at Dan and he said, “Mr and Mrs Murphy, Dan; I don’t think we have anything to worry about but I’m sure by tomorrow we’ll know everything we need to know.”

 

The doctor then nodded as if in conclusion and then said, “Until tomorrow, then” and he turned and walked toward the door.

 

“Excuse me, Doctor, could my wife and I have a word with you outside,” David asked.

 

“Of course,” the doctor replied and the three left the room, leaving Dan alone, confused and totally shaken by the events and information that had just unfolded.

 

Dan was absolutely shocked and he could not believe he had been in a coma and in hospital, for the last four months of his life. He wondered how Jake was and he worried that Jake must have been so concerned about him for all of that time. He knew how much Jake cared about him and how he was always there to support him. He also wondered how many times Jake had been to visit him. Dan sighed heavily and shook his head.

 

Outside the room, David asked, “Was there anything you felt you couldn’t say in front of Dan?”

 

Doctor Robinson smiled and replied, “No and I promise you there’s no reason for concern” but then he added, “Mr and Mrs Murphy, the tests and scans on Jake will probably take several hours and as we won’t be releasing him until tomorrow, it’d probably be best if you went home, as opposed to waiting around hoping for answers that might not be available until much later or even tomorrow.”

 

“I understand and that sounds reasonable. Thank you, Doctor,” David said and then he and Carol turned to return to Dan’s bedside.

 

Carol turned and said, “David, Dan’s only just awoken and he’s probably feeling very uncertain. I’m not sure we should just leave?”

 

“Carol, you heard the doctor and he knows better than us. We’ll just be in the way and Dan isn’t a baby anymore. He’ll be fine.”

 

With a disturbed look in her eyes, Carol was about to argue but she thought she was tired of arguing with her husband, which she had been doing regularly in recent times. She really did not want to leave Dan but she decided, “Keep the peace and you can give Dan all the attention he needs tomorrow.”

 

Dan asked as his parents walked back in, “Is everything okay?”

 

“Dan, the tests are going to take some time and so your mother and I are going to get out of the way of the doctors and nurses so they can do their jobs. From what the doctor is saying, it seems you’re going to be just fine and you’ll probably be home tomorrow. I expect your discharge will be late morning to midday and so we’ll come back to pick you up then, all going according to plan, that is,” David said.

 

“Yes Dad,” Dan replied.

 

Carol bent down and she gave Dan a big hug and said, “I’m so glad you’re back with us, Dan. I’ve missed you so much and this is such a relief. I love you so much.”

 

Unexpectedly, David said, “Carol, Dan’s a man now and not a little girl. He doesn’t need to be molly coddled. He knows we’re happy he’s back with us and that we love him but I’m sure one more day in the hospital will be a simple task for our young man. All this girlie emotion is unnecessary.”

 

Carol let go of Dan and as she turned and looked at David, she glared at him angrily. Dan did not see his mother’s reaction but he looked at his father confused and wondered why he was being this way. His father was always detached but this was downright militant. Dan did not expect a parade with bells and flowers but he thought that considering he had been in a coma for four months, a little sensitivity and concern would not be too much to ask.

 

Carol turned back to her son, bent down again and kissed his forehead lovingly. She then looked him in the eyes and said, “We love you, sweetheart and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

“I love you too, Mum,” Dan replied.

 

As Carol stood up she glared at her husband a second time and she knew the drive home held a massive argument in store.

 

After Dan’s parents had left, the nurse returned and presented Dan with a huge smile and a warm squeeze of the arm before she said, “Hello Dan, in case you didn’t catch it before, my name is Julie. How are you feeling, apart from the fact of how utterly confusing all of this must be to you?”

 

Dan smiled. He liked this woman instantly. She was so warm and nice and considerate.

 

“Well, Julie, I guess I’m okay but all anyone seemed to care about was what they were feeling and thinking. No one seemed to care about what was going on with me,” he said.

 

“I can imagine. What do you remember?”

 

“I didn’t remember anything at first but then the doctor said something about an incident on a beach and I felt this strange feeling like a thought was right at the front of my mind but I just couldn’t pull it out.”

 

Julie turned and looked at the door and then turned back and said, “You were at the beach with Jake and then a wave swamped the beach. Does that ring any bells?”

 

Dan’s eyes became as wide as saucers from the recall and then he said, “The wave! Holy shit! Yes, I do remember. Is Jake okay and how do you know about Jake?”

 

“Jake and I have sort of become friends while you’ve been here and yes, he’s okay. Well, as okay as he can be when you’re in here and not out there with him,” Julie said with a knowing grin.

 

Dan looked at her and got the distinct impression she knew more than she was saying. She looked back at him and chuckled and then said, “He’ll be so happy to learn that you’re awake and well.”

 

Dan asked, “What’s going on?”

 

Julie suddenly sat down on the bed. She looked at Dan very seriously and then said, “Dan, please listen to me and let me finish. I don’t have that much time but there are some things you need to know that are very important to you and Jake. I know about the two of you, I know what you said to him on the beach before the wave hit and I know what he signalled to you while you were in the water.”

 

“What? How?

 

“Please, let me get this out, Dan. Jake visited you everyday without fail from December through to the beginning of February. That’s how I came to know him and also about the two of you. We talked on several occasions. He was the only person who truly believed unshakeably, you would come out of the coma. Anyway, one day while Dan was here with you, just as he was about to leave to go home, he kissed you goodbye. The problem was that your father arrived and saw him do it.”

 

“Oh fuck,” Dan gasped out.

 

“You’re not wrong, Dan. Your father kicked him out of the room, told him he could never see you again and gave the hospital instructions to not let him near you. I spoke to Jake on the phone several days later and he told me your father went to his home and outed Jake to his parents.”

 

“Oh fuck,” Dan repeated, even more shocked.

 

“Jake calls me every couple of days to get an update on your condition. He went through hell and back worrying about you and now he’s going through a different kind of hell because he knows your father is going to stand between the two of you.”

 

“Not if I can help it,” Dan said angrily.

 

“Dan, Jake doesn’t know you’re awake yet but I was going to give him a call a little later. Of course there’s a chance that the scans could reveal something but I suspect you’ll be fine and that you’ll be going home tomorrow. The thing is, I don’t know how Jake will react to the news and so I was wondering if there was anything you want me to tell him?”

 

“Julie, if I know Jake at all, he’ll be happy and excited that I’m okay but he won’t try to come in and see me. Jake isn’t the type to try and force himself against my dad’s wishes. I know he’ll want to see me but he won’t push the envelope. He’ll wait and hope. I guess all I really want you to tell him is I’m awake, I miss him and I love him and that I’ll see him and speak to him as soon as I can. If I could speak to him right now I’d want to assure him that nothing and no one is going to stop us from being together. Not even a coma,” Dan said and chuckled.

 

“You know, after getting to know Jake and now after talking to you, I understand why the two of you have fallen in love,” Julie said and smiled.

 

“There always seemed to be something that stood in our way. I’ve loved Jake for years. Half the time I believed he loved me too but the other half I wasn’t certain. Either it was whatever was going on in Jake’s head or it was what was going on in my head, which most of the time was my fear of how he’d react. I finally got the guts to tell him and some freak wave puts me in a coma in hospital for four months. Even now, when I wake up from the coma, I find out all of this has happened and my Dad is a new obstacle. Whatever, I plan on stopping these obstacles when I get out of here. I know Jake loves me and that was all I needed to know. From here on I know I’ll overcome any obstacle that tries to keep me away from Jake. He was born for me,” Dan said.

 

Julie was smiling throughout everything Dan said but his final statement shocked her. She thought there was definitely something different about these two teenage boys and if nothing else, she believed their love was real and true.

 

“Well, I guess the orderly should be up here to get you to take you for your scans very shortly and I really need to get back outside before someone notices I’m missing. Anyway, I hope you understand why I had to tell you all of that. Jake is such a nice boy and I see now that so are you, so it was important,” Julie explained.

 

“I understand and thank you, Julie, from both Jake and I,” Dan replied.

 

“You’re very welcome and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for both of you,” she said.

 

The moment Julie left Dan’s room, he shook his head and then in a rasped kind of whisper he said, “Fuck! What in hell am I going to do and how in hell am I going to deal with Dad?”

 

Dan lay silently for sometime but his mind was whirling as he tried to figure out a solution so he could be with Jake. He felt for Jake and everything he must have gone through. Dan could barely wait to talk to Jake so he could get the full story. He wished Jake were with him right then so he could hug him. Remembering Julie telling him Jake had kissed him, in spite of the kiss being the cause of his father knowing, he also wished he had been awake to feel Jake’s kiss.

 

While he was still lost in thought, Julie returned with the orderly and Dan was transferred to a gurney and then wheeled out the door to get his scans. It took over three hours, as Dan was taken here and there, asked to wait, asked to move into machines and was prodded and poked and tested until eventually, he was returned to his room. When he was finally back and settled, soon after, Julie came in and said, “I have a surprise for you,” before she handed Dan a portable phone.

 

Excitement filled Dan’s eyes and he sat up and took the phone and put it to his ear and said, “Hello?”

 

“Dan?”

 

“Yeah Jake, it’s me and I’m awake,” he confirmed, as his smile and his eyes lit up his face.

 

“Dan, I love you, I mean I’m in love with you, I mean, um, I’m sorry I didn’t say it back to you straight away,” Jake said with a tone that sounded guilty.

 

“Jake, it’s okay. I saw your hand signals from the water. I knew what you were saying and it meant so much to me and made me so happy. Really it did.”

 

“I’m glad,” Jake said.

 

“Not as glad as I was,” Dan replied.

 

“Julie just told me she filled you in on what’s going on,” Jake said.

 

“Yeah, she did and I’m sorry my dad treated you the way he did.”

 

“He hates me, Dan, he really hates me.”

 

“Well, I love you and I’ve loved you for years and so fuck him. We’ll run away if we have to but he’s not going to keep us apart,” Dan said with absoluteness.

 

“Don’t try and come and see me when you get home. As much as I want to see you, I don’t want to cause you any trouble but please, Dan, open your bedroom curtains so I can see you,” Jake said.

 

“I promise,” Dan said sincerely but then as the true clarity of the change between them sunk in, with a sexy tone of voice he added, “Naked or clothed? You want me to put on a show for you?”

 

“Dan, all I want is to see you and to know you’re there. These last four months have killed me and for the whole time your bedroom curtains have been closed. Every time I looked at your window it felt to me like life was conspiring to keep me completely separated from you,” Jake replied.

 

The amusement left Dan’s eyes instantly and with a heartfelt change in tone he said, “You’ll see me. I promise you will.”

 

“My heart is pounding, Dan. I’ve missed talking to you so much. Not seeing you and being without you was like I was the one in a coma,” Jake said.

 

“Well Jake, I’m back now and no matter what, you and I are going to be spending a lot of time together. Nothing and no one will keep us apart. I promise.”

 

“Dan, I don’t want to stop talking to you but Julie told me this had to be a short call so she doesn’t get in trouble. She’s been so kind and supportive of me and so let’s not cause a problem for her,” Jake said.

 

“Yeah, I get it and I understand, Jake. I love you, I’ll see you soon and we’ll speak again soon, somehow,” Dan replied.

 

“I love you too and I can’t wait. Bye, Dan.”

 

“Bye Jake,” Dan said and handed the phone back to a smiling Julie.

 

“Feeling better,” Julie asked.

 

“Hell yeah and thank you, Julie.”

 

“You’re welcome, Dan.”

 

“We owe you, big time.”

 

“No Dan, you don’t owe me anything and I’m just glad I could help and make things a little easier for you both. Anyway, I have to get back out there,” she said and then she walked to the door and disappeared from view as it swung closed.

 

Dan slid back down into the bed and as he stared up at the ceiling, a huge smile was on his face. Jake had just said the words he had wanted to hear for what seemed like forever. Not only that but they had said them to each other in one single conversation. He now believed with absolute certainty they were meant to be together. He started thinking about his father but he closed his eyes, pictured Jake instead and then imagined kissing Jake when they saw each other again.

 

***