just like us

 Simon hadn't meant to walk in on trouble at the library, but evidently, he had. He was there to pick Steve up from work. Someone was stealing DVDs.

"Or, just a bad case of OCD," said Lynsey. No one knew what actually happened to the DVDs the patron kept carrying around then putting them on a shelf and reshelving them several times.

"I didn't want to expect the worst," That's when Steve told him at the end of the shift how he used to live in a group home.

Simon was in shock. What did that possibly mean? Had his parents put him there? He felt so bad for Steve. All alone in a group home. No wonder he was afraid of his parents.

"Look, don't blame them," Steve said on the ride home. "I shouldn't have brought it up.  Or, I know I should have told you sooner." He looked over at Simon as if he expected the worst. As if maybe he should move back home after all.

"I was a bad kid. I really was. I had done some horrible things at school. I got into fights," he told Simon.

"But, but.." Simon shook his head. He couldn't believe that. He couldn't.

"I learned a lot, being in juvie, then at the group home," he sighed. "I can say now, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me."

Simon didn't know what to say. He was driving anyway. He guessed this wouldn't be the time to go out for a burger. Suddenly, he'd lost his appetite. Soon they were home and Steve went to change.

Simon looked blankly in the fridge as if there was something he was supposed to do, but he didn't know what that would be.

When he turned he saw Steve there in the doorway in his favorite flannels and pastel tee.

"I don't want you to be afraid of me," he said he understood if he was. "I am not that person."

"I know, you're not," Simon's voice cracked. Tears burned his eyes. It was like an Ephiny. He truly knew now what if felt like to love someone.

Simon hugged him tight. He knew he never wanted Steve to go through anything like that again.  It hurt to think what Steve had been through, but he believed in him and wanted to be by his side.