“And I told you to be patient. And I told you to be fine. And I told you to be balanced. And I told you to be kind. And in the morning, I’ll be with you, but it will be a different kind. ‘Cause I’ll be holding all the tickets, and you’ll be owning all the fines. Come on, skinny love, what happened here?”
-Birdy (Skinny Love)
November 2026 (Thanksgiving)
The snow was falling heavier, and people were laughing in the distance. Matthew found himself at the Esplanade, staring into the Charles River. This was where it all began for him. He was pulled from the river, and his life as Gregory Black began. Memories of that fateful night flashed before his eyes.
When he got his memories back nearly three months ago, he still couldn’t recall what happened the night of his “accident.” He didn’t care to know what happened. He had made peace with not knowing. Now, suddenly, his brain was plugging all the pieces together.
Every emotion he felt that night flooded his body. His mind was overrun with fear, panic, and love. Tears began to stream down his face. He couldn’t face his past alone. He needed someone to help guide him.
As he dropped to his knees, he screamed,” AAGHH!”
“This is where you left me that night. I’ve waited ten years for you to come back,” a familiar voice said.
Matthew's eyes were fixed on the ground. His head turned, and he saw the black shoes. His eyes traveled up the frame of the person, revealing a body frame that was similar to his own. The person was an apparition of Matthew.
The apparition asked, “Are you ready to go back?”
Matthew wiped his tears and said, “I’m losing my mind.”
“Time to get it back then,” the apparition replied. “Relax and feel all the emotions. Trust me, Mat. We can do this.”
Matthew closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, and his body relaxed. Every emotion ran through his body. Mentally, he traveled through time and space to the starting point of the decision that led him to Boston that night.
November 2015 (Thanksgiving)
Matthew stood under the shower head, letting the water soothe his mind, body, and soul. His mind was all over the place. Thoughts of regret, sorrow, and discord flooded his being. It had been almost a year since his mom had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Matthew didn’t handle the news well and had struggled since finding out. Her diagnosis led him down a dark path briefly.
Noah stuck in his head in the bathroom and shouted, “We’re going to be late.”
Matthew walked into the bedroom with the towel wrapped around his waist. His body was dripping wet. He looked like a delicious snack waiting to be eaten. Noah watched him from the bed. No matter how many times Noah saw Matthew, he always felt lustful and horny when he looked at him.
Matthew’s body had developed nicely over the years. His thick, curly hair was well-kept, and his red lips were always and forever begging to be kissed. Matthew dropped the towel, and his flaccid cock hung to the side. Noah quickly walked over and pushed Matthew’s back against the dresser.
Startled, Matthew asked, “What are you doing, Monty?”
Noah didn’t answer. He just dropped to his knees and took Matthew’s cock into his mouth. Matthew smiled and closed his eyes. He grabbed a handful of Noah’s hair and let him service his fat cock. There was something about the way Noah handled him that made Matthew’s heart flutter and feel all sorts of things.
Noah knocked at the door. Matthew looked like he wanted to be anywhere other than there.
“Why do you look so down,’ Noah asked.
“They don’t like me. Did we have to come here,” Matthew asked.
Before Noah could say anything, the door opened, and Zane smiled brightly as he greeted them with a beer in his hand. He was happy to see Noah. Matthew was a guest by default. It was Zane’s year to host Thanksgiving dinner for everyone.
Zane screamed, “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Noah said as he hugged Zane.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Matthew dryly stated.
They entered Zane’s Manhattan apartment and were instantly hit by the aroma of blended spices and herbs. The place was filled with joy and laughter.
“You know I’m glad you’re here. Everyone won’t stop talking about that damn fried turkey you did last year,” Zane said.
Noah laughed,” Let me guess, you have all the ingredients, but you want me to fry it.”
“This is why you’re my best friend. Can you fire the turkey?” Zane batted his eyes at Noah and made a pouty face.
Noah rolled his eyes, “Fine.”
Noah took the bottle of beer from Zane and walked towards the kitchen. The second Noah was out of earshot, Zane put his attention on Matthew.
“How is he,” Zane asked.
“He’s perfect. I’m the one who is falling apart. This shit is eating at me,” Matthew confessed.
Zane shook his head, “Serves you fucking right for what you did.”
Matthew sucked his teeth, “Hey fuck you, Zane. I don’t need you and Trevor judging me.”
“Well, guess what? We are. We are not here to help you ease your guilt, Matty boy.”
Just as Matthew was about to say something, he was distracted by the open book of sketch designs. One in particular was a wedding band with purple diamonds.
“What is this?” Matthew asked as he picked up the book.
“A sketch design my mother is doing as part of an original collection for Van Cleef in Boston,” Zane said as he took the book.
“It’s beautiful. It’s the perfect replacement set. Purple is Noah’s favorite color. I need that ring, Zane.”
Zane smiled, “You do have excellent taste. 75k is a good start.”
“75k? Holy shit. He’s worth it. Can you make the call?”
“Already dialing,” said Zane as he put his cell phone to his ear and flashed a smile at Matthew.
The ring was beautiful. It was a platinum band with 95 purple stones and 2.88 carats. Something about it just pulled Matthew in. He had to get it. He knew no amount of money would ever make up for what he did, but it was a start in his mind.
November 28, 2015
Matthew and Noah were snuggled up in bed together, watching the news. Details were still flowing in about the shooting at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. There was something about the ordeal that made Noah feel some sort of way. For some reason, the news report cut to the June 17, 2015, Charleston church massacre, where nine black people were killed during a church bible study. Noah quickly turned the TV off. He sat up and turned to face Matthew. His heart felt heavy and fearful. The world they lived in was changing, and it felt like it wasn’t for the best.
Noah spoke with a tremble, “I think you should reconsider having a child.”
“Are you serious? Babe, why are you bringing this up,” he asked. “I thought you were okay with this.”
“People are dying, Matthew,” Noah shouted. “At church, they are dying, and at clinics and at schools. What if one of us is out there one day and we don’t come back home? What if you die? Then I’m alone, and I can’t fathom the idea of being here without you. What would I do? Why would I keep living if you’re not here anymore.”
Matthew hugged him, “Baby, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. I will die an old man in bed next to you, like in the movie The Notebook.”
“You don’t know that. My dad died. Your dad died. My mom nearly died of cancer. Your mom is sick. People die. It’s unavoidable and scary. Matthew, I don’t want you to be alone if I die, and I don’t want to be alone if you die. There has to be a piece of us left behind for the other one.”
Matthew responded, “Unless we die together like a Greek tragedy.”
The idea of having children was still one that Matthew was not on board with. Even though he knew he had a child out there in the world with Luka, he never talked about it. In his mind it was better that the child not know him. His fears were similar to Noah's. He didn’t want a child because he didn’t want a child to experience what he felt when his dad died, so he’d rather not have one at all. Fear, as they say, begets fear.
December 2015 (Christmas Eve)
Noah and Matthew sat in their underwear in front of the Christmas tree. They had started a tradition where they each opened one gift on Christmas Eve. Matthew handed Noah a big blue gift box. Noah smiled and pulled the top off. A tiny grey Pitbull emerged. She was so beautiful.
“Oh my God. Look at you,” Noah said as he lifted her out of the box. His heart melted the second he laid eyes on the pup.
She quickly took a liking to Noah and licked his face. Noah fell in love the moment she licked his face.
“My mom would never let me have a dog growing up,” Noah told him as he stared at the pup.
Matthew said, “I know you want kids, but right now, this is the closest thing to a child I can give you. Give me more time, and maybe I’ll come around.”
Noah smiled and handed the pup to Matthew, “I can do that. Time for your gift.”
Noah disappeared for a moment, then returned with a camera and tripod. He was wearing a green thong. He set everything up, dimmed the lights, and turned on “Skin” by Rihanna. He started slowly winding his hips and moving his body seductively. Matthew covered the pup’s eyes.
“So, this is my gift,” Matthew asked.
“A home movie for you to watch any time you miss me when you start traveling,” Noah said as he slid his underwear off.
He got on his knees and crawled over to Matthew. Everything about Noah easily excited and turned Matthew on. He could feel his cock growing in his underwear. His eyes revealed what his heart felt: love.
Noah commanded, “Stand up, beautiful.”
Matthew put the pup down, and she quickly started to wander about the apartment. Matthew stood up, and Noah pulled his underwear down. His huge phallus was ready for action. Noah was ready to give it all the action it deserved.
Noah opened his mouth and took Matthew’s erection deep down his throat. Matthew stood tall with his hands on his hips and slowly fucked Noah’s mouth. His cock twitched as Noah licked all over his shaft. The heavy tongue felt amazing, lapping his heavy balls and stroking him.
Matthew breathed, “Oh yeah. Just like that.”
Noah took the shaft back into his mouth, and Matthew fucked his throat harder. Gagging sounds flowed through the air. Noah forced himself to swallow more of Matthew’s cock. His eyes watered as his mouth was stretched wide. Matthew slapped Noah’s fluffy ass and watched it bounce.
“Turn around,” Matthew said as he pulled his cock out of Noah’s mouth.
Noah turned around and presented his ass to Matthew. Noah readied himself for Matthew’s next move, and without fail, Matthew pulled the string of the thong to one side. He ran his fingers across Noah’s tight, sweet hole and then along the edges of his ring. The touches turned Noah on.
Matthew kissed his anus and then pushed his tongue inside of him. His lips closed around Noah’s rosebud, and he sucked it into his mouth. Matthew forced more of his tongue inside of Noah’s tunnel.
“Fuck,” Noah breathed.
Matthew smiled at the camera as he inserted his middle finger inside of him. Noah’s walls tighten around the digit. Matthew’s tongue ran across his taint as his long finger moved in and out of him. Noah let out these soft moans as Matthew opened him up.
“Tell me a secret, Monty,” Matthew asked of him as he fingered him.
“I want to be slutted the fuck out,” Noah confessed.
“You wanna know my secret,” Matthew asked as he fingered him harder.
Noah screamed out, “What’s your secret, Mateo?”
Matthew pulled his finger out of Noah’s ass and placed the head of his cock right against Noah’s puckered hole. Matthew could feel it pulsing against his dick. Noah was ready to be fucked like a helpless slut.
“I never get tired of this fat ass pussy creaming on my dick,” he said as he pushed his dick inside of Noah.
“Fuck,” Noah moaned. He never got tired of the way his ass spread each time Matthew pushed his cock inside of him. It was the best feeling ever.
Matthew spread him open with ease. It was almost dirty the way his cock slid in. Noah arched his back as Matthew fed him inch by inch of his long dick. He has halfway in when he decided to start fucking Noah.
With each stroke, he fed Noah more of his dick. Matthew was extremely turned on. He wanted Noah to cream his cock. He put his hands on Noah’s lower back and began to move in and out of him with long strokes. Noah tried to grip the floor, but he couldn’t. Matthew’s dick was deeper than it had ever been before.
Matthew’s big balls were knocking against Noah’s taint. Each stroke made Noah’s ass cheeks bounce. The more he fucked, the more he wanted. Noah’s ass was made for his cock. He drove himself deeper inside of him. That dick touched every nerve inside Noah’s tight anus.
“Fuck it’s so deep. You so deep in me,” Noah cried as he tried to move.
Matthew gripped Noah’s shoulders, and as he pulled him back, he said, “Don’t you run from this dick. Give me my pussy, Monty!”
Matthew slapped him on the ass, and he picked up his pace and began to drive his cock in and out of Noah harder and faster than before. Noah’s ass started to cream. Seeing the cream excited Matthew. He wanted more of it!
“Fuck me like you love me, Monty. Show me what I mean to you.” Matthew was like a different person. The camera had done something to him. He was fucking like a porn star.
Noah started to throw his ass back on him. He moved back and forth fucking himself faster and faster. Matthew would slap his fat globes each time he bounced back. His ass was serving enough cream to fill a dozen crème filled doughnuts.
Noah screamed, “Oh my God, Mateo!”
“That’s my name. Say it with your chest.” He said as he pounded Noah harder.
“Mateo!” Noah screamed as his leg shook.
“Louder.” He slammed his dick deep into him.
Noah cried out, “MATEO!”
“Haha,” he giggled. “You better never think of anybody but me and my dick.”
“I promise. Oh, my fucking God, I promise,” Noah shouted.
Matthew pulled out and took a seat on the floor. He leaned back on his elbows and bit his bottom lip. Noah didn’t need to be told what Matthew wanted. He knew his man, and he knew him well. He squatted over Matthew’s dick and eased down on it.
Matthew’s dick slid back inside of Noah’s gooey hole. His strong hands grabbed a handful of Noah’s chocolate cakes and made them bounce. Up and down, Noah moved on Matthew’s cock. He rode him like the pro he was. Matthew spread his legs wider, allowing the camera to get the perfect view of his fat balls, sculpted ass cheeks, and Noah’s delicious ass bouncing up and down on his dick like a bull rider.
“Your dick is so fucking big,” Noah cried out loud.
“Yeah, it fucks you good, don’t it,” Matthew asked.
Noah moaned, “Yes, Daddy.”
He started to fuck up into Noah hard and fast. Noah’s ass cheeks clapped, and Matthew’s balls bounced. He was deep in Noah’s guts. Noah got into a squat position and started to ride Matthew harder. He tightened his creamy wet walls on Matthew’s cock and took him for the ultimate ride.
“Oh shit. Fuck. Ride me. Oh my God! YES! YES! FUCK YES! RIDE ME MONTY,” Matthew screamed. “BABY YES! DON’T STOP. Oh my GOD!”
Noah slammed himself down on Matthew’s cock over and over again. He worked him to the edge and then would stop and then pull him to the edge of orgasm again and then stop again. The room was filled with the clapping sound of Noah’s cheeks smacking into Matthew’s thighs.
Matthew pulled his dick from Noah’s hole. His body started to shake. He fought to calm himself down. He wasn’t ready to cum just yet. He pulled Noah into a steamy kiss. He rolled him on his side and lifted his leg up.
“You tried to make me cum. Dirty bitch,” he playfully said.
“Your bitch,” Noah corrected him.
“Damn right,” he said as he pushed his dick inside of him.
Matthew started to fuck Noah’s ass hard. His balls pounded into Noah’s taint, making them both moan. Both their legs were lifted straight in the air. Matthew’s pretty little rosebud was exposed to the camera. As they fucked, Matthew sucked Noah’s neck, making sure he left his markings all over him.
The sounds from their fucking grew louder. Matthew’s dick felt like it grew more inside of Noah’s hot ass. There was ass cream everywhere. Farting noises were coming from Noah’s ass which meant Matthew was giving him the fuck of his life.
“FUCK ME MATEO!”
“I’M FUCKING THE SHIT OUT OF YOU MONTY!”
He was indeed doing just that. The pounding grew louder and louder. Matthew felt the cum rush from his balls and up the shaft of his dick. He couldn’t fight it off. He was ready to give Noah all his babies. He slammed into him deep and unloaded his cum inside of him.
“FUCK! I’M CUMMING!” Matthew shouted.
He pumped load after load of cum into Noah’s bowels. Noah’s hole throbbed around Matthew’s shaft as he unloaded his cum all over the floor as well. That would go down in the books as the second-best fuck of their life. Their number one would always be prom night when they fucked for the first time.
January 3, 2016
The snow was coming down hard. Most of the roads were closed to travel. Everyone was being encouraged to stay home and keep warm. It was predicted to be the worst blizzard in the last century. Yet, Matthew was undeterred, his resolve unwavering as he prepared to head out into the storm. There was something urgent, something of great importance that he needed to attend, something he refused to tell Noah. Whatever it was, it was worth the risk.
“I don’t like this, Mateo,” Noah's voice was filled with fear as he paced back and forth, his worry palpable. He didn’t want Matthew to go out in the storm; the thought of his safety burdened his heart.
“I promise I will be back before you know it,” he said as he finished wrapping his scarf around his neck. “How do I look,” he asked as he faced Noah, dressed in all of his winter gear like an Eskimo.
Noah puffed, “It’s a fuckin’ blizzard coming, and you’re going out in it. I don’t like this. Please don’t go.”
Matthew raised his eyebrow. He was still waiting for Noah to tell him how he looked.
“Ugh, you look good. You know you look good,” Noah said.
“I always do,” he smiled. “I promise I will tell you everything when I'm back,” he said.
Matthew took his locket off. It was the same one that Noah had given him for his eighteenth birthday. It was his favorite thing in the world. He never parted ways with it.
“Tell you what, hold on to this until I get back. It’s my favorite gift from you. I’m coming back for it and for you,” he said as he placed the locket around Noah’s neck.
Matthew grabbed his car keys and headed for the front door. He stopped and turned around to face Noah once more. They were madly in love, which showed in everything they did with and for one another.
Noah smiled and said, “Be careful. Dive slow, and if it gets bad, turn around or pull over and let the worst part pass.”
“Yes, Dad,” Matthew said with a smirk and a twinkle in his eyes.
Matthew opened the door. The cold air blew in from the hallway. The coldness sent a shiver down Noah’s spine. Matthew looked back at Noah once more. For a second, they appeared to be frozen in time. It was as if they were trying to remember each other just how they were.
“I want to tell you that I love you,” Matthew said with such a deep calmness.
Noah squinted his eyes. He had never heard Matthew say I love you quite like that before. Noah was slightly puzzled, but also, it was not something that gave him a deep pause for concern.
“I love you too,” he said with a quirky yet beautiful smile.
Matthew was going to Boston to pick up the ring he wanted for Noah. It had been over a month, and now the ring was going to be delayed due to the snowstorm. Matthew didn’t want to wait any longer. He had wanted to give Noah the ring at Christmas, but it wasn’t ready. No more delays. He figured it would be easier and better to just go and get it himself. Hindsight is everything.
Matthew made it to Boston. In preparation for the approaching storm, most businesses were closed. It was a quick exchange with the store owner. The rings were beautiful. He was happy and felt like he was starting to make up for his blunder from earlier in 2015.
The sun had long gone, and it was dark outside. There was snow on the ground, and more was falling. He placed a call to Noah, but there was no answer. Noah was in the shower at the time of the call. He was going to leave a voicemail until he saw the three men approaching him. He hung his phone up and decided to just walk past them, get in his car, and leave.
As he walked, he accidentally bumped into the guy in the middle. Their shoulders hit each other. Matthew spun around to face the guy. The guy turned around to face Matthew.
“Watch it bitch,” the guy said to him.
Matthew fought the urge to say something back. He rolled his eyes, shook his head, and turned to carry on. He decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. He was in a happy mood, and he couldn’t wait to get back home to Noah.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me,’ the guy asked.
Matthew stopped walking, smiled to himself, and carried on. Nothing he could have done at that moment would have deterred them. They were going to mess with him no matter what. Matthew pulled his car keys out. He was close to the car, and he unlocked the car door. He was about to open the door when one of the guys slammed his head into the hood of the car.
“Teach your ass a lesson, bitch,” one of them said.
Someone hit him in the side. He dropped to his knees, and then there was a kick to the stomach and then another kick to the head. Blood poured from his mouth. Just then, his phone rang. It was Noah returning his call. One of the guys picked his phone up. Matthew struggled for a bit, but he was eventually able to stand up.
“I don’t want any problems, man,” he said as he raised his hands in defeat.
The one guy he bumped into hit him three more times in the face. Each blow was more fierce than the previous one. There was no need for the ruthlessness. Yet, it happened anyway.
The guy shouted, “Give me your money and the fucking car keys.”
Matthew complied. He handed over his car keys. He pulled his wallet out, and that was when the ring box dropped. The guy saw the ring box. Matthew didn’t want to let the ring go. It was the symbol of his new beginning with Noah. Maybe, in hindsight, he should have let them take it.
Just as the guy was about to reach for the rings, Matthew fought back. Those kickboxing classes that he and Noah took in high school came in handy. He was able to fend them off. A quick kick in the stomach for one and a punch in the face for the other two. He grabbed the rings and ran.
He ran toward the Esplanade. There was no one around. His ribs had been cracked from the kick he took to the stomach. He looked back and saw no one following him. He turned his head straight and was struck by a metal pole.
The force knocked him on his back and stained the snow red with his blood. The three men stood over him. They dug in his pockets and pulled the rings out.
Matthew tried to sit up, “Not the rings. Please.”
As he sat up, one of them said, “Stay your ass down.”
He was struck to the back of the head with the pole. He rolled a little in the snow. His ears began to ring. For a moment, he thought he was dead. He finally was able to stand up. He moved like a zombie, unaware of anything around him.
He cried, “Noah. Noah! MONTY!” He just wanted to be with Noah. He was scared, and there were so many things left unsaid between the two of them. "Monty, please. HELP!"
“Man, quiet his ass down before someone comes.” One of his assailants said.
Matthew stumbled, disoriented, “Monty! Help me. Monty!” Fear, anxiety, and panic set in him. The blood was dripping into his eyes. He could barely see what was in front of him. "Monty," he mumbled.
The third blow to the head with the pole proved to be the most damaging one. The hit came from the back. Matthew fell face-first into the harbor. His body struggled to survive. He flipped on his back. His eyes fixed on the dark, snowy sky. The blood had been washed from his eyes by the harbor. The freezing waters attacked his skin like hornets stinging him all over. There was nothing he could do.
In NYC, Noah tried to call Mathew once again, but the call went straight to voicemail. As he hung up the phone, he resumed watching an episode of “The Vampire Diaries.” Klaus had just killed Aunt Jenna and the emotional episode was ending with Birdy’s “Skinny Love” playing. Noah glanced at the front door across the foyer and hoped Matthew would be walking into the house soon.
Matthew lay in the freezing Charles River, looking at the sky. Memories of his life played like scenes from a movie. Each time a scene appeared, it burned, indicating his memories were fading away.
He fought to hold on to them, but it was no use. Memory after memory faded until he finally stared at the last memory. It was of the day he first met Noah in Chemistry class. He could see Noah sitting there, extending his hand out to him.
“I’m Noah Montgomery,” he said.
Matthew weakly cried, “Noah! Don’t leave me. Please don’t go. I won’t forget you. Noah.”
Matthew tried to fight it. He tried to hang on to the memory. The memory started to burn. He kept saying Noah’s name, trying to force himself to remember him. It was the slowest burn of them all. Slowly, every ounce of love, hope, and joy died inside of Matthew, and then there was nothing. He was no one, and his fight was gone.
He couldn’t say Noah’s name anymore. Noah no longer existed to him. His eyes closed, and he was ready to go, but that was when he was discovered by the officer on patrol.
November 2026 (Thanksgiving)
Matthew opened his eyes. His apparition was still standing before him. Tears fell from his eyes harder than they had ever fallen before. His heart shattered from the trauma of reliving that night again.
“They took the rings. I came to get the rings. I had messed up and was trying to ease my guilt,” he cried.
The apparition, “We messed up, but it's time we make things right.”
“What if we can’t,” he asked.
The apparition touched Matthew’s shoulder, and his old life truly merged with his new life. For the first time, he could remember how he felt when he first saw Noah that day in class. He could feel the excitement and joy. The love was still missing, but this was the perfect step in the direction to finding the love.
TO BE CONTINUED
© Grayson Rose 2025. All rights reserved.
