Only I saw it in his eyes. The words he couldn't speak aloud were spoken in his shining eyes. Whether he was happy or sad the emotion was there. The slight twinkle to the dull stare. Most people took him for being rude, but I know my Calum couldn't help it. When we would talk to people in public and I'd answer for him, they would take me as rude but in reality I had to. Calum just couldn't do it.

Ever since I met him I wanted to help. I have tried everything, still nothing. Although I know he will talk when he is ready, part of me wants to hear his voice now. Despite the silence at home, we communicate in more ways then not. 'Yes' is a snap, 'no' is a foot stomp. His way of 'I love you' is to trace a heart shape wherever. We have developed our own language and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Calum?" His head perks up.

Snap

I smiled, "I have something for you."

Calum's eyes light up and he makes his was across the couch to sit next to me.

"Just wait while I grab it. No peeking." I tease, he just smiles and covers his eyes.

I laugh and reach towards the small box on the table beside me. Picking it up I remove on of his hands from his eyes and place the small box in his hand. He opens his eyes and removes the other hand. His eyes peer down at the box then he looks at me.

"Go ahead, open it."

Carefully he pulls the small ribbon off the box and opens the lid. He pulls the string up and a key dangles from the dip. I look at his face and before I can see the emotion he wraps his arms around me.

Chuckling I hug him back, "Calm down baby. Want me to explain?"

He pulls away and nods quickly.

"Alright, so remember the one time we were at school and the kids were teasing you."

Snap

"It was before I met you. I was super shy but yet I was drawn toward you. I pulled them away from you and took you into my arms. You sobbed while I held you. That day I knew you stole my heart."

Calum was on the verge of tears, "So here it is. The one and only key to my heart. On the key part its engraved with our names. I know its cheesy but I thought it was cute."

I look down at my hands. Despite the silence, which I know all too well was not on purpose. I still felt self-conscious about the gift.

I felt a hand on my chin and my blue eyes were met with his brown ones. We looked at each other and I noticed his eyes shone with happiness. He slowly pulled me in and our lips met. A slow passionate kiss. I felt his other hand trace a heart on my thigh.

"I love you too Cal."

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But that was many years ago. For now the boys were much older. Although Calum only spoke in stutter, it was better then not at all. Luke learned to deal with Calum, even though it was hard at times. People would stare, but the two didn't care. They were in love, and nothing could stop them.

Except for one thing. Calum had cancer, it was hard to treat. Luke knew he wasn't going to make it. But he kept telling Calum that it would all be fine and they would be together forever. He knew that in order for Calum to be happy they would have to get married before his time on Earth was up. So thats what they did. The night of May 4th 2024, Calum Hood became Calum Hemmings.

At times it was rough, but the two boys pulled through. Neither one wanted to be apart from the other, so they made it work.

—————————-

January 25th 2028, Calum turned 32. He was supposed to die two years ago, but he pulled through with Luke's help. Despite being bald, Luke made Calum feel like the most beautiful man in the world. He bought Calum all kinds of hats to cover his head, for he knew it made Calum happy.

But this birthday was different. Calum was in the hospital. His heart slowing at a rapid rate, only a few more hours left for him to live. The doctors told Luke he could stay with him for as long as he needed, so he never left. They brought a second bed in for him to sleep in, he wasn't leaving Calum's side.

Luke was deep in thought when he heard a shaky voice call out to him.

"Luke."

He jumped up and ran to the bedside, "What's up love?"

Calum's face full of pain, "Do you still love me?"

"Why would you ask that, of course I love you. I promised you that the day we got married."

The look on Calum's face softened, "Good, so you would do anything for me right?"

Luke nodded, "Anything for you."

"When I leave, do me this. Find someone else who makes you happy. Someone that didn't find their voice in the last moments they have on Earth. I want you to do that. Someone else deserves you more than I do. You need to be happy." Calum spoke almost as if it was rehearsed.

Luke could feel tears pooling in his eyes, "Cal you can't just leave. Not after all this. You finally found your voice, we can raise a happy family."

Calum put his hand out and grabbed Luke's, "You need to move on. I don't want you to be sad, you deserve so much more. Someone that won't take everything you have."

"But Cally you don't. I wish I could have given you more."

Calum was crying, "You don't get it Luke, I should be dead. I should have died years ago. I now you did all you could to make me happy. But seeing you so happy and trying so hard was what made me happy. Everything you did was amazing and wonderful, but you were the best part. Just seeing you gives me butterflies like the first time I saw you."

Luke sighed and wiped his eyes with his free hand, "Please Calum. I need you, don't leave me alone."

The black haired boy sighed and reached next to him, pulling out a small box.

He sniffled and smiled, "You know one time when you went to see your mom, one of the nurses took to me town. She said that she wanted me to buy you a gift. I honestly didn't know what to get. I felt like a little boy buying a gift for his crush. It was so hard. We walked into so many stores, but this stood. It actually just came in while you were sleeping."

Luke took the box from Calum's hand and carefully removed the bow. Inside the box was a necklace with two dog tags. He pulled it out of the box and looked at the engraving. One of them had the date they met and their wedding day on one side, but on the back was a picture of a rose. The second tag had the word shine on the front and on the back was Calum's initials. But in-between both of them was the key Luke gave Calum all those years ago. Luke looked at Calum and he knew it was moments before he would pass.

He took Calum's chin in hand hand and made eye contact with the male. He leaned in and kissed him. Luke knew he didn't want Calum to go knowing that Luke had kissed him the night before.They pulled apart and Calum looked at Luke with hurt eyes.

"I love you Luke."

Calum flat lined, doctors rushed in. Luke was a sobbing mess. He simply couldn't stop crying, the nurse led him out and he knew his life was over. But he couldn't quit now, he had to keep going for Calum. His one and only love was gone, but not completely. He wouldn't ever forget the black haired boy that never spoke until he had to. The boy that stole his heart. Calum was the boy that shone through it all.

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My first published one shot as its own book. I have had this sitting open on one of my desktops for awhile, I finally got around to finishing it. I hope everyone likes it. I don't really know how I feel about it. But I would love your feedback below.

P.S. I am aware I should have just made a one-shot book but I and doing this for now, so just hang in there.

With love,

                   Frostleaf