Jeremy Watson watched his grandson play in the park in front of him as he sat on a wooden bench. His grandson Jackson, who was now almost five, was running around with his pet dog, throwing a ball and laughing all the while. It was Jeremy's birthday tomorrow. He would be seventy tomorrow. His son and daughter-in-law were throwing him a small party with the family member and friends invited.

Jeremy didn't feel any different though. It felt nothing different than the regular days. The only thing different was tomorrow was when he had decided to join the army fifty years ago. He had served his nation when they needed him and then after a long service of thirty-five years, he had retired with all the respect he could get. He had to retire early because of his hear problem. Also, the pain of losing his wife, his best friend was over whelming. But he had managed to survive through this far with the help of his family. The small moments had helped him make it this far.

He wondered how long this would last. Until when will he survive up on these moments. At this point of his life, he felt like seventy years were enough to see how much ever world you could see. He had no wishes. He didn't have pending duties to fulfill. It seemed peaceful.

"Grampa, Toby wants to go home. He's hungryyyy", Jackson yelled at his 'grand-pa', grabbing his attention.

"Alright...", Jeremy stood up slowly leaning on his walking stick and started walking towards his hyper-active grand-son. As he felt a dull pain in his right knee, he winced, realizing that in few months or days, he won't even be able to take his grandchild out to the park.

They both reached home in less then five minutes, their house was just beside the corner.

Inside the house, his daughter-in-law Rachel chirped at their arrival before telling them to freshen up and come down for dinner.

Jeremy climbed slowly to his room which was on the first floor, facing the park itself. He had bought this house for himself, his wife Julia, and his son Robert. Jeremy was almost fifty at that time. Now twenty years later, Robert was married to the love of his life, he had three kids of his own.

Later, Jeremy sat at the dining table with his family and ate with a smile on his face as his son and grandson bantered over who would be served first. Rachel scolded them both and served Jeremy first telling them that, 'we start with the oldest one'. Robert told him how the party would proceed. Robert told him they had a surprise for him. Jeremy had just nodded and carried on with his food. His teeth were already acting out, he had to eat from left side of his mouth. Jeremy joked, "It would be your fault if my heart failed tomorrow, then"

That whole night, he couldn't sleep peacefully. At midnight, Robert had come into his room, hugged his still awake father, whispered 'happy 70th birthday, pa' and then left the room putting behind a lingering smile on both their faces.

In the morning, even before Jeremy opened his eyes, Jackson jumped on his bed and started shouting, 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'. His mother wished him gently. His eldest grandsons had also arrived and greeted him with biggest smiles on their faces. After much long time, he was happy in this moment. He could see how much his family loved him.

Everyone was so much excited for celebrating his birthday. Even more than himself.

After morning breakfast with his family, he didn't see Robert and Rachel for the rest of the day until evening. He spent his morning listening to his twin grandsons telling him about their new and exciting life in the town miles away from their home. His youngest grandson, was taking turns in playing with his brothers and his dog.

In the afternoon, after having lunch, he retired to his room for some rest. As he laid in his bed, he kept thinking about his surprise. He began remembering all the past times, his young days when Julia would arrange these parties for him if he was off duty. He remembered that she would bake him his favourite wafers and puffs with his guilty pleasure sweetened tea, when he had his other half, his best friend by his side and was content up to the brim.

Now, even if he was happy and surviving everyday with a smile, he felt partly hollow.

That afternoon, he held his wife's picture to his chest and let the tears fall freely as he apologized to her soul in heaven, for not giving her that special position in his heart, when he had chosen her as a life partner. He told her that he loved her. He confessed to her that he didn't want to live without her anymore, he didn't want to live with that hollow anymore... he didn't want to live alone anymore.

He never realized he had fallen asleep and woke up to his son knocking on the door. Jeremy opened the door and saw Robert looking ready for the party.

Robert helped his father get ready and forced him to wear a vest over his shirt which looked pretty by the time Robert tied the lace of his shoes and walked him out of his room.

The stairways were lit, rest of the room was dark as Jeremy climbed down slowly. As soon as he reached at the bottom staircase, the room lit up like a Christmas and everyone cheered, 'Happy Birthday!!!'.

It took Jeremy a moment to realize who were all the people in his house. It was his team. The team of army men he had worked with, for more than thirty years. His second family was here, for celebrating the seventieth year of his life.

Jeremy snapped out of his shock, a genuine smile laced his face as his Senior came forward and hugged him, clapping his back as he used to do before. His brothers came forward and wished him. He realised some of them were absent, especially someone he would have wanted to see, but he didn't want to ask and hear something about it sounding awfully similar to 'Dead'. Instead he let himself enjoy this moment. He knew this moment would never repeat.

Jeremy hugged his son tearfully and thanked him for doing this for him.

"Now, I can die in peace", he joked receiving a stern look from his son.

The evening came along beautifully. He was chatting up with his friends and laughed whenever someone complained about getting old. Amidst of the chats, there was a knock on the door, which his son received.

Jeremy wasn't paying attention until, "Dad, another friend is here."

Jeremy looked at the person and did a double take. The chatters around him faded and he stared at the person from head to toe before settling on face.

"Andrew...", he whispered among the loud chatter, but it seemed like his friend heard him and mouthed his name back, "Jeremy".

The first thought in Jeremy's mind was, 'he is at least not dead'.

Jeremy looked at his face that was once so clear and glowing that was now pale, freckled and wrinkled, just like his own. His hair was balding from the top but he could still picture the blonde curls from decades ago. His blue eyes looked at him with all those memories re-surfacing. The memories that he had buried long, long ago. Five decades. To be precise. Jeremy could see the layers of all those buried days peeling off one by one.

Locking eyes...

Their fingers touching...

Watching his bare torso....

Creeping into his tent...

Confronting him...

Grabbing him....

Kissing him...

"Dad, let's cut the cake now. Come...", Robert said taking hold of his hand.

Jeremy looked away from Andrew and let his son lead him to the cake. His mind was still dazed from arrival of the person he thought he would never see again. His hands had begun shaking, so his youngest grandson had held his hand and cut the cake together. Everyone cheered for him. His friends gave him their gifts which he thanked them for, still not completely catching up to the situation.

His friends proceeded to have dinner, while Jeremy excused himself for washroom break.

He climbed slowly to his room and went inside the bathroom, locking himself in. The mirror showed him how he looked like now. His face was wrinkled, his teeth were falling out, his grey hair had receded permanently from the middle of his head, his eyes looked dull. He didn't look any closer to how handsome he was in his young age. Still, tonight, he saw him looking at him the same way he had looked that night. He looked at him with affection.

Jeremy spent few minutes in bathroom trying to compose himself, but as he came out, he saw Andrew sitting there with a piece of paper in his hand.

Andrew looked at him and patted the place beside him. When Jeremy settled himself hesitantly yet calmly, Andrew handed him the old corrugated paper.

Jeremy realized, it was a letter.

20th December, 1967.

Dear Jer,

I can't hide anymore. I don't want to. I wish I had acted earlier. I apologise with all my heart, for refusing your love in the name of society. Being away from you for past few days made me realise, I would die if I had to live a life without you in it. If you shall allow me to, I shall take you away from all your misery, your betrothed, your un-loving parents. We shall run away from here and find us a new home where no one shall tell us what we are doing is wrong. I was wrong pushing you away, but I am ready now. I have things ready-to-go, all you have to do is send me an affirmative.

Your love,

Andrew

Jeremy closed folded the letter and sucked in a breath before pulling out his wallet. He opened his wallet to the fullest and reached to the deepest corner of the partition and pulled out a similar looking piece of paper. He gave it to Andrew and let him read it patiently.

20th December, 1967

Dear Andy,

I wish you hadn't left me like you did few days ago, my father wouldn't force me to marry my childhood friend, my heart wasn't broken into pieces at the moment. I just wish you would accept my love and tell me that you can't live without me, like I can't without you. I wish, you would tell me that I don't need to obey my parents and society, and run away with me so that we could live without being judged. I know I won't be able to live without you. I beg you, Andrew, please tell me that you still love me and are ready to leave this abhorrent society with me.

Writing with heart full of love and misery,

Jeremy.

Andrew folded the paper and stared at it for a moment. Jeremy asked suddenly, "Do you regret not sending it?"

"No....Do you regret not sending it?", Andrew asked.

"No", Jeremy said and a smile graced both of their faces.

"Well, I would say you still have your charm, but clearly it's too late for that", Andrew said reaching for his hand.

"I would say you still have macho body, but clearly it's too late for that", Jeremy replied, grasping his hand firmly.

20th December, 2020.

Robert stood looking at the words, 'Jeremy Grayson Watson – a friend, a lover and a father'. As he put flowers on his and the beside grave, 'Andrew Jason Dakota', he still asked himself, who was actually his friend and who was his lover. But anyways, he smiled and walked out of the Grave with his family.