Gravity

by Tal Bauer

“I love you,” I say again. “Tu es dans tous mes rêves.” You are in every one of my dreams. His hand twitches in mine as if he heard me in his own dreams.

Il est mon copain.

He is a cat again, always trying to press closer, to find places where we can trade molecules and atoms and slide a little more into each other's hold.

After our win, Bryce and I make love for the first time since his injury.

“Je t'aime de tout, mon coeur. Je t'aime pour toujours.”

I realize he's kissing away tears streaming down my face. “I love you,” I whisper as he kisses away another. I draw a heart on his chest and kiss the center, then lay my cheek against his skin. “I love you so much.”

Later, when we're falling asleep in each other's arms, Bryce draws a never-ending heart on my chest. He draws and draws and holds me tight, his finger moving until his movements slow and he surrenders to sleep. And the first thing I feel when I wake up is his finger drawing hearts on my chest.

Most of all, more than anything else, my recovery is thanks to Hunter. He has been there every moment of every day. He is my strength and my hope, and he has never given up on me.

“Je t'aime aussi, mon amour.” My voice is more breath than sound, a whisper strained through silence. But these words have shape and weight, and they move from my lips to Hunter's ears. “Je t'aime de tout.”

Then we're kissing again, and crying, and his tears slide down my face as he holds me tight and says to me, “Tu es le seul pour moi, mon amour.”

“You do lead this team. You're our leader. You're our heart. We wouldn't be anywhere near where we are without you. It doesn't matter if you're on the ice or on the bench.”

“This is Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. They might try to kill you, Bunny.”

not a single person on this team would choose to sacrifice you for the Cup. And if it comes down to choosing—you or the Cup—we will all choose you. We nearly lost you once. We're not losing you again.”

Miraculously, thanks to my doctors, thanks to my healing, thanks to Hunter and Valery and everyone who saved me, I am here, and I am going to lead this team to the Cup.

Score.

End of game. Montréal 3, Seattle 2.

We are the Stanley Cup Champions.

“Tonight, after a fantastic game, and on behalf of the National Hockey League, it is my absolute honor to invite the Montréal Étoiles captain, Bryce Michel, to come and hoist the Stanley Cup for his team.”

I keep the Cup low at my waist as I skate back to them. I don't want to lift this Cup alone. This is our victory, and we are meant to celebrate together.

So when they surround me, when I am encircled by my brothers, when Hunter and I are looking into each other's eyes— Only then do I heft the Cup over my head and unleash a scream. I want to be by your side when I heft the Cup. I said it, I meant it, and now the moment is here.

Tu es l'amour de ma vie. Tu es mon rêve devenu réalité.

Kiss me, mon amour. Kiss me and let's show the world what true love means.

We kiss as I hold the Cup over our heads.

Our teammates are shouting. Hunter's hand cups my cheek, and I smile against his lips as a million came...

“I love you,” Hunter ...

L'amour de ma vie, pour toujours.

“Je t'aime aussi, mon coeur.”

And I kiss him again, in front of the...

“N'oubliez pas de vous aimer,”

“Nous voulons prendre soin de lui comme il se soucie de toi, chéri,” Leo said.

“You once asked me, when we were sitting by another river, what it all meant. What happens next? And what does the future look like?” I take his hands in mine. He's holding the ring, staring at it, staring at me. “Je veux passer ma vie avec toi.” His lips are parted, shock painted on his face. “Hunter…” I kiss his fingers and smile. “Veux-tu m'épouser?”

“Mais oui.” Bryce beams. “Mon Dieu, oui, oui, mon amour.”

He laughs as I slide the ring onto his finger, and then he drops to his knees with me so we are face to face. He holds my hand in his as he kisses me, slowly, deeply, like he's defi...