EXCERPT:
They hardly noticed darkness had fallen over them like a warm blanket, until they noticed how brightly the stars were shining in the clear night sky.  The moon shone down on Ely’s skin illuminating the beauty of its youthful sheen, and Quentin felt his heart skip a beat.  Quentin slowly made his way across the middle of the hot tub until he was standing directly in front of Ely.  Ely didn’t know why Quentin had done this, but didn’t feel uneasy about it.  He felt comfortable with Quentin and also felt that he could trust him.  Quentin very subtly took both of Ely’s hands in his and looked into his eyes.  “You’re beautiful, Ely, both inside and out,” he told him.  Ely looked at Quentin a little embarrassed, especially after the daydream, as well as sleep dream that he had had about him last night and this afternoon.  Slowly and adeptly Quentin placed his hands on Ely’s face and began to caress his cheeks.  Ely didn’t know what to think, yet didn’t want Quentin to stop. 

******

It was dark when Ely awoke.  Quentin was still sleeping soundly on top of him.  Ely wondered what time it was.  His mother must be worried terribly, although she allowed him to live as independently as he wished.  Quentin stirred, then looked up at Ely sleepily.  “Are you okay?  Do you need something?”  “I should probably be getting back, Quentin.  I know it may sound lame, but my mother must be worried about me.”  “I don’t think it’s at all lame,” Quentin replied.  “I do insist, though, that you let me walk you to the beach where I found you earlier this evening since it is quite dark out this far.”  Reluctantly, not wanting to seem “scared of the dark”, Ely said, “Okay, that would be nice of you, Quentin.”  Quentin fished Ely’s swim trunks out of the hot tub, and slid them up his legs and over that very part of him that had experienced such pleasure just a few hours ago.  Then he gently kissed Ely on the lips and helped him up.  Ely was glad his towel was close by, as he could feel himself becoming aroused again just by the touch of Quentin’s hands on his naked body. 

******

At this point Quentin somehow gathered the strength to sit up.  He struggled to get Ely off of him, though clearly Ely had the advantage position with the ability to leverage himself against the bed.  “Ely, what have you done?!” Quentin demanded.  “I told you what would happen to me if I tried to get help here.  You didn’t call an ambulance, did you?”  “No, no Quentin.  I didn’t.  Please lie back down.  Please stay calm.”  Ely was pleading with him now.  “Not until you tell me what you have done, Ely.  Did you tell anyone?”  “Quentin, I called my mother who will be here soon.  But she understands, Quentin.  I told her I was gay.  I’m sure she assumes you are too.  She knows people in the Northeast, as I told you earlier.  Trust me, Quentin.  Let her help.”  “Ely, you fool.  People always say they understand and can help, then turn on you when you are gay.  You don’t understand what has happened to me.”  Quentin was shaking visibly now, and Ely had no idea how to calm him.  “I’m sorry, Quentin.  I didn’t know what you might do to yourself.  I needed the help.  Please trust me on this one.”  The apology seemed to help somewhat.  Quentin began to relax.  “What choice do I have, huh?  You may have ruined me, Ely.” 

******

As Ely was searching for some of Quentin’s favorite books to take along, in a small corner of the library underneath a copy of Moby Dick was a letter addressing Quentin as “The Love of My Life.”  Ely hated snooping like this, but thought that perhaps its contents held some of the answers to Quentin’s debilitative state.  He began to read it.  It was from two years ago, from a man who had loved Quentin very much.  Apparently, Quentin and this man had taught at a school in San Antonio together.  From the sketchy timeline Ely could piece together, it appeared that they had had an intimate relationship for around three years.  Apparently, some of the students were very opposed to homosexuals, and Quentin’s lover was very outspoken about his being gay.  For Quentin’s sake, however, he never mentioned that he was his lover, and they always met in very secretive locations.  As he merely skimmed the rest of the letter, as it was quite lengthy, Ely came to the last page which was very disturbing.  It described the man’s feelings for Quentin, but it also indicated that a group of male students had seen them sneak off together one night and had followed them to their secret hiding place.  He had ended the letter by telling Quentin that he had heard that these students were planning to kill them, and the word “fag” was used often in their conversation.  He told Quentin that he would always love him and planned to stay and face them.  He also implored Quentin to leave San Antonio that night and go to Houston or Dallas, or anywhere, and just start over.  He loved him too much to see him get hurt, or worse, killed.  Quentin was much more sensitive than his lover, who welcomed a confrontation, especially when it concerned his homosexuality.  The letter was signed, “Forever Yours, David.”  Underneath the letter Ely discovered another disturbing piece of the puzzle.