Page 9 of Pure Silence

Work, work some more, come home, be miserable, sleep.

As Goldie drifted off, he was still thinking about the young man.

Maybe he’d see Goldie’s address on the license and come to return the wallet. Goldie would invite him in, he’d order dinner, and they’d talk for hours over takeout. The young man was probably an artist or something, perhaps a hopeless romantic, maybe he was just as lonely as Goldie was, and…

Goldie fell asleep, dreaming about a bright smile and fluffy curls.

Yeah, right.

Like he was actually gonna see the young man again.

3

DAY

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“Hey, are you all right?”

This wasn’t supposed to happen. That voice. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck fuck.

“Hey, hey, easy now. I got you. You’re okay.”

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

That voice.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,fuck.

The frantic thoughts repeated inside Day’s head on a whirling loop as he rushed home, and he tried to make sense of what had just happened. There was no noise or static when the big man spoke, only the sweet voice of an angel, and Day had no idea what to do.

No one sounded like that.

No one but me.

No one else but Father could speak to Day, but that was because Father had been touched by the Lord. His was the only voice that was pure and good, and everyone else was full of venom and lies and filth.

But that man…

That giant, handsome man…

Day shuddered.

His mind was being filled with impure thoughts, but he did his best to ignore them.

Father had taught him about sex. Day knew that men needed to spread their seed to stay healthy, and that was why Father would bring women home sometimes. Day could remember hearing them at night, makingthose sounds, and he’d try to plug his ears so he wouldn’t have to listen to it.

Father bought Day his first pair of headphones after Day told him he didn’t like the noise. He also didn’t like women, but he’d never told his Father that.

He didn’t have to.

Father had known anyway. Father had always known.

Father had told him that having sex outside of marriage was a sin, but God would forgive them. God understood they had needs. He’d brought a man to the house once, and he’d told Day to have sex with him. It was important to stay healthy and sharp for their mission, and Day needed to spread his seed with this man.

Day hadn’t liked it.

He’d wanted to, but…