Prologue

In that moment, within the breeze caressing his hair and the soft splashes from a puddle, their eyes met. For a fleeting moment, they smiled, fumbling in their pockets and exchanging small glances.

It was futile as she dragged him away; Ian could only sigh and turn to watch the boats pass under the bridge.

He could hear her obnoxious laugh resounding in his ears as she yanked him tightly away from him. Ian could only hope Vince was thinking the same thing…but it was doubtful.

The river glistened underneath his feet; the bridge spanned between one side of the flowing waterway and the other. The city lights sprawled across the immense horizon, and Ian could only hear the honks of loud car horn, people laughing, talking, and airplanes flying overhead.

It is all so damn over rated.

He could hear people coming towards him as he stood on the bridge, and he slightly hoped it was Vince. Maybe he was without her…

Only shadows passed over the railings as three elderly men passed him, and he recollected himself as tears, welling up in his hazel irises, accumulated on the rim of his bottom lid. He wanted Vince, he needed Vince.

With Vince, it all melted away around him. With Vince, it was just the two of them, sitting together on a park bench, laughing, talking, and being together.

He needed Vince.

She had to, unfortunately, always be there, watching him tagging along, holding his hand Ian only longed to touch, kissing the lips Ian could only visualize caressing with his own.

He needed Vince.

The only question, though, that floated endlessly in Ian’s mind as he stood there, alone and cold, on the bridge, was simple…….

Did Vince need him?