Chapter 7: The Flame and the Ashes

The charity gala was held in a tall glass building that smelled like wealth.

Lights sparkled from the ceiling. People in expensive clothes smiled with empty eyes. Soft music played, but no one was really listening.

Gabe hated these events.

He used to come with Elijah  back when Elijah was charming and bold, when they were something strong and real.

Now?

Now they were pretending again.

He stood by the wall, drink in hand, watching Elijah move through the crowd like a ghost. He looked perfect  dark blue suit, clean shave, calm smile.

People believed it.

The cameras loved it.

But Gabe could see the cracks. The stiffness in Elijah’s shoulders. The way his eyes flinched when someone said his name too loud.

“Elijah,” someone called. “It’s good to have you back.”

Elijah nodded, shook hands, thanked people he didn’t remember.

A woman touched his arm. “I always knew you were too stubborn to die.”

Gabe saw Elijah fake a laugh. Then his eyes searched the room  until they landed on Gabe.

Like he needed something solid to hold onto.

Gabe gave a small nod.

That was the lie they were living. That one look. That quiet agreement: we’re still us, even if we’re not.

An hour later, Gabe found Elijah by the balcony, alone.

The city lights burned in the distance. The air was cold, but Elijah didn’t seem to feel it.

“You okay?” Gabe asked.

Elijah didn’t answer right away.

Then, softly, “I feel like I’ve been here before.”

Gabe leaned on the railing beside him. “You probably have. We came to this same place two years ago. You wore black. You got too drunk and kissed me in front of the whole board.”

Elijah turned to him. “Was I always like that?”

“You were fearless,” Gabe said. “Sometimes stupid. But always real.”

Elijah smiled a little. “You sound like you miss him.”

“I do,” Gabe said without hiding it. “Every damn day.”

The silence that followed was full of unsaid things.

Then Elijah asked, “Did we ever dance?”

“All the time,” Gabe said.

“Can we?” Elijah asked.

Gabe blinked. “Here?”

“There’s music.”

Gabe hesitated.

Then nodded once. “Just one.”

They stepped onto the balcony’s edge, away from the people. Just the two of them, standing close.

Gabe placed his hand on Elijah’s shoulder. Elijah placed his hand on Gabe’s waist.

They moved slowly, barely touching.

The song was soft. A piano. Something sad.

Gabe felt his chest tighten. Elijah’s body felt warm. Familiar.

He didn’t know when it happened, but they stopped moving.

They were just standing there, breath mingling, eyes locked.

Gabe could feel Elijah’s heart beating fast through his shirt.

And then Elijah leaned in.

His lips brushed Gabe’s.

It was light. Soft. Not deep. But it cracked something open.

Gabe didn’t stop him.

He should have.

Because in the next breath, Elijah whispered  too soft, too broken:

“Adam…”

The name hit like a slap.

Gabe stepped back, fast. Cold spreading through him.

Elijah froze. “What?”

“You just called me Adam,” Gabe said, voice low.

Elijah blinked, confused. “I didn’t mean to.”

“You did,” Gabe snapped.

Elijah took a step forward. “I don’t know why I said that”

Gabe stepped back again. “Don’t.”

“I’m sorry”

“Don’t be sorry,” Gabe said. His throat was tight. “Just tell me who the hell Adam is.”

“I don’t know!” Elijah said. “I swear”

But Gabe was already walking away.

His heart was in his throat. His chest felt like it had been torn open.

He pushed through the crowd, out the doors, into the cold night air.

He didn’t look back.

Elijah stood on the balcony, alone.

He touched his lips.

The name still echoed in his head.

Adam.

It was like it didn’t belong to someone else.

It belonged to him.

And that scared him more than anything else.