How could he do it? They had discussed this moment, yes, but to turn off the respirator had sounded procedural then. You turn off the lights; you turn off the TV. You don’t turn off this.… Marcus looked into Nic’s eyes. “I love you with all my soul, with all of me. You know that, right?”

Nic nodded and searched for Marcus’s hand on the quilt. He clasped it and pulled it to his lips. “Love you.…” He coughed and, squeezing Marcus’s hand, whispered, “I’m ready.”

Marcus shut his eyes and turned the respirator off.

Libation

HE WAS cold. The sky behind them was a rose-filled violet. “There’s no question, you look just like him. Outdid myself this time,” the sculptor said as he walked to the basin and splashed water on his face. Grabbing some paper towel, he patted it dry in the mirror. “I, on the other hand, look like shit. Remember when we used to promise we’d stick by each other through thick and thin, even ugliness. Time for you to pony up.

“You know, you were more talented than me. If you had shaped yourself as I’ve attempted to do, you would have sprung to life.” The sculptor grabbed a chair and, turning it round, straddled it to face the statue. “Nic, I’m so… cold. I’m lonely. I look at you and it reminds me how much I hate the world. I don’t like people, especially men. Friends have told me—that’s right, our supposed friends have told me I need to move on. I need to find someone else. And I’ve tried, I’m sorry, but I thought maybe it would take this emptiness away. It hurts so much to be this empty, feels like my insides are trying to pull me in, and it keeps growing stronger. I thought maybe they were right and if I just met someone new, it would get rid of this ache. Millions of people in New York, and yet there’s no one without you.

“Do you know what it feels like to lie naked with someone you hardly know? To kiss them? I closed my eyes and tried to imagine you there, but my hands and body couldn’t be deceived. I opened my eyes and witnessed the horror of being devoured by a stranger. There was no trace of respect or love, only empty hunger. Brute and hairy, taking me like spoils after war.