"Firework"

His feelings were as unclear as the misted window he looked through. There was no reason to feel that way, but as the dark November night was cold and unfeeling toward his confusion, he couldn't help but feel sorry for himself. The condensation on the glass made tears run down the pale cheeks of his reflection. Real tears were long since dried up. There was no reason to cry. Looking out into the night, he wondered if he would ever really be accepted.

Matthew had known he was gay for years, but it seemed that the more he tried to hide it, the more obvious it became. That's when he'd met Luke.

He fogged the pane even more with his heavy sigh. Luke. The only one that had ever truly understood him. The only one that he had ever really loved.

In the background, he heard distant sirens. In the foreground, his phone buzzed on his lap. Luke.

His eyes lit up and he opened the text with the expectation of that heart-racing, skin tingling feeling. As he read the words 'Can you hear that?' his feelings turned from excitement to confusion.

He text back, 'Hear what?'

Matthew looked out the window again and placed his forehead on the wet glass, awaiting the reply. He knew he would always have Luke, but as he looked down at the heterosexual couples walking the streets by his house, he couldn't help but wonder if it would have been easier...

Luke text back almost immediately. Matthew smiled again. It read, 'BANG!'

As Matthew looked up from his phone, confusion written all over his face, the window lit up with red and yellow sparks.

"What the-?" Matthew asked himself.

'BANG!' Came another text. Then another bright firework – this time green – lit up the skies not too far from the house.

Matthew had told Luke what he'd been going through. That for some reason, he was feeling down. He was doubting himself. Doubting his worthiness of Luke himself.

Luke had denied that there would ever be anyone more worthy of his love than Matthew, but Matthew couldn't see it. Not tonight.

'Is that you?' Matthew text. Another text explained, 'The fireworks? You?'

Luke's next text was a simple laugh.

Matthew furrowed his brow and sat up on his knees to see out of the window better. The fireworks had stopped for a short while.

'Wat r u doin?' Matthew text, his words shortened to show his eagerness for the answer.

'Nothing', the reply rang quickly.

'???' Matthew chuckled as he hit send.

There was a rustling in the trees to the side of the house. One of the passing couples stopped to watch whatever was going on.

Matthew's answer arrived as the rustling stopped, 'Baby, you're a firework.'

Matthew smiled, looking back to the trees. Just as he was starting to suspect, Matthew's side of the house was illuminated by multicolour fireworks, exploding in an impressive show of dazzling beauty. Reds, greens, blues, oranges, purples, golds, pinks; every colour in Matthew's imagination was flying into the air in an array of sparks, screams and bangs. He put his hands over his ears and laughed loudly. This was amazing!

His phone buzzed again. 'Come on, show 'em what you're worth.'

Matthew looked down and saw Luke standing there, in front of the impressive, still-going, firework display. Sparklers in his hands, he beckoned Matthew outside.

Grabbing his favourite jacket, Matthew crashed through the house and out to where Luke stood. As Matthew ran full speed at him, Luke threw the sparklers away either side of him and left his arms out for Matthew to jump into.

“You're brilliant!” Matthew exclaimed, crushing Luke in a hug.

“You needed cheering up,” Luke's signature grin made Matthew's heart flutter.

“...What about my Dad?”

“Don't worry,” Luke reassured, “I called him before I came. He knew what I was going to do.”

Matthew looked at his boyfriend and muttered, amazed, “I love you.”

Luke beamed and nodded, “I love you too. Never doubt that.” Then, he added in song, “You're original. Cannot be replaced. If you only knew what the future holds; after a hurricane, comes a rainbow.” Skipping to the chorus after a sweet kiss on the cheek, Luke finished, “Baby, you're a firework. Come on, let your colours burst. Make 'em go oh, oh, oh. You're gonna leave 'em falling down...”

Matthew, lost for words, kissed Luke softly and then muttered a simple thanks. He knew he would never be alone. Not when he had someone like Luke to fall in love with everyday.