Love Means No Boundaries - Andrew Grey

took off.” Robbie settled in a chair.
     
“Joey left him standing in the yard,” Geoff supplied, annoyance in his voice.
     
More conversation went on around him, but he didn’t pay attention. He knew both of them were upset by Joey’s behavior, but he needed to think, and there was one place he could always think.
     
Getting up from the table, he made his way through the house and upstairs. In the bedroom, he found his violin case sitting where he’d left it and slowly opened the case, taking out the instrument.
    Instead of putting it to his chin, he ran his fingers over the smooth wood, the warmth and familiarity of the musical artist’s craft comforting the internal ache. Picking up his bow, he settled on the edge of the bed and positioned the instrument, drawing the bow over the strings. The notes came forth from deep inside his mind, the confusion and helplessness all coming out through the violin.
    Brahms’ German Requiem flowed through his mind. He could hear the entire piece: the orchestra, the choir, all accompanying him as he played. Tears ran down his face as he continued playing, expressing his own loss. As a child he often thought he’d been lucky he’d had a chance to see before his defective genes had taken away his sight, but in truth it made it harder, just like now. He’d been given the gift of freedom and encouragement, and in one moment he’d been left standing helplessly in the yard by someone he thought cared about him.
He played for hours, completely losing himself in the music. A soft knock on the door brought him back to himself, and he put down the instrument, pressing the button on his watch. The mechanical voice told him it was nine-thirty as he heard the door 96
     
Love Means … NO Boundaries
    open. “I brought you something to eat.” Eli’s said softly. “You didn’t come down for dinner, and none of us wanted to disturb you.” Robbie set down the violin, and he felt a plate being set on his lap and a glass pressed into his hand. “It’s just a sandwich. I can bring you something else if you’d like.”
“Thank you.” Robbie was so thirsty; he drank most of the milk in a single gulp before setting the glass on the nightstand. Then he felt around the plate before picking up the sandwich. “Is Joey back?” He wanted to know and didn’t want to know at the same time.
     
“He came in a few hours ago and went right back outside without saying a single word to anyone.” Eli sounded concerned. “I wish I knew what was wrong.”
     
Robbie finished the sandwich and milk, and Eli took the dishes. “Do you want to come downstairs with me?” Robbie shook his head. He didn’t want to go anywhere. “Are you still hungry?”
    “No, thank you.” Robbie picked up his violin again and began playing. He didn’t even hear the door close. He had no idea how long he played, but when he stopped the house was completely quiet, and he was completely drained. Putting his violin away, he wiped his face and found that his cheeks were wet. Getting up, he set the case on the dresser and opened the door. He heard scampering, and then the bed creaked. Smiling, he got ready for bed and crawled beneath the covers, Rex curling up next to him.
    Robbie couldn’t sleep. Instead, he lay in the bed listening to the dog snore, and occasionally he’d feel him running in his sleep, legs going as fast as they could. Robbie kept hoping that he’d hear his door open, and he’d hear Joey’s voice; hoping that Joey would join him in bed and take him into his arms; and hoping he’d explain what had happened. Instead he got nothing but loneliness. Robbie tried to sleep, but it wouldn’t come.
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Andrew Grey
    Robbie pushed the button on his watch, the voice telling him it was just after two in the morning. Huffing to himself he heard Rex snuffle as he got out of bed. Feeling his way, he found the door and opened it silently. Taking the now familiar three steps across the hall, he found Joey’s closed door and put his hand on the knob and stopped, getting up his courage. He turned the knob and pushed open the door. He heard nothing, no soft breathing, nothing… at first.
    “Robbie?”
The single word was enough for him to be able to follow.
Walking in the room, he closed the door and walked up to the bed.
    “What did you think you were doing today?” He swung his hand and was rewarded by the smack of skin on skin. “You left me stranded in the middle of the yard. I didn’t know