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The man hesitated before nodding. “It appears to be similar to a panic attack…but more like he gets lost in his head for a bit. He won’t tell me what brings them on, but he’s had a few since he started volunteering here…that I know of anyway. Since he prefers to work by himself, he could also be having them when no one is around.”
“You seem to know him well,” I suggested.
“I also know enough not to share personal information about my friends with strangers, Mr. Jones.”
Friends?
It was an odd term for the man to use, especially considering Levi was basically an employee.
“I’m just concerned about him, Father,” I said softly, and to my own surprise, the statement was a true one. I hadn’t expected to have so much trouble reconciling the young man I’d held in my arms a moment ago with the guy who’d help destroy a family for nothing more than a quick payout.
The man’s face softened a little as he finally stroked his fingers over the discolored skin on Levi’s left cheek. “Levi’s a lost soul, Mr. Jones. But unlike many of the men and women who seek my counsel, he appears to have no interest in finding it again.”
The image of Levi on his hands and knees as he spat out a mouthful of cum went through my mind. The priest’s words had me wondering if the bruises weren’t a new thing because he didn’t seem overly surprised by them.
“Father O?” Levi whispered as he struggled to fully open his eyes. He immediately tried to sit up, but I put my hand on his shoulder.
“No, my son, you lie down for a bit,” Father O admonished, his voice gentle.
Levi’s head dropped back on the pillow. A minute passed before he seemed to completely come back to himself. I saw the disappointment and embarrassment in his gaze and when his eyes flicked to me, they didn’t linger. He was clearly humiliated.
“Levi-” I began, but stopped when he sat up.
“I’m okay now,” he murmured. “Sorry, Father,” he added as his eyes fell on the older man.
“Never apologize for something beyond your control.”
The man’s words didn’t seem to comfort Levi at all. If anything, color flooded his cheeks. “I should get back to work,” Levi said.
“No, you need to go home and get some rest,” the priest responded.
But Levi started shaking his head before the man even finished the statement. “No, I need to be here.” When Father O began shaking his head, Levi reached out to grab his arm. “Please.”
The one word seemed to spark some silent conversation between the two men. Father O finally nodded his head. “But I’m going to help you.”
“No,” Levi cut in. His voice softened as he said, “You’re already late for hearing confessions, right?”
The priest seemed torn.
“I can help Levi,” I said before I could think too much about what I was doing.
Both men looked at me like I’d grown two heads.
“No,” Levi said, his voice dropping just a bit. “You don’t have to help cook the meal you’re going to eat…you already have enough on your mind. We…” He hesitated as his eyes shifted to Father O who nodded. “We want you to be able to relax and-”
“Levi,” I interrupted. “I’m not homeless and I didn’t come here for a free meal. I was cutting through the alley as a shortcut to get to my car when I ran into you.” I didn’t mention the circumstances of how I’d met him. “You were so kind to offer me a place to get out of the rain and something to eat, that it got me to thinking about how I’d like to give back.” I shifted my eyes to the priest.
“I’d love to help out, if you could use the help, that is,” I said to the older man.
There was a hint of suspicion in Levi’s gaze, which had me wondering if he’d bought my story, but he remained silent. Father O smiled widely and nodded. “Why yes, that would be wonderful. We could use all the help we can get, isn’t that right, Levi?” the priest said.
Levi nodded. “Yeah, that’s great.”
Father O sobered and then turned his attention on Levi. I watched his fingers curl around Levi’s chin. “Put some ice on these,” he said as he carefully fingered the bruised skin. “You know where to find me.”
Another nod from Levi. I expected it was yet another one of their silent conversations. The priest got up and left the room. Levi shifted and pushed the blankets off his body before swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
“You shouldn’t lie to a priest,” he murmured.
His observation was a surprise, but I didn’t bother to deny it. It had been a pretty lame argument.
“Why were you really in that alley?” he asked.
