The Ugly Bear - Sex Stories

The Ugly Bear

... emotions under control. He expects the worst, and he wants to be there for both of them. Jules and the rest of the staff are on edge at the office, waiting for Jack's call.

Bill, Karl's best friend, keeps cleaning the top of the bar at his restaurant, fearing the worst. He briefly saw his friend the prior morning. He came home crying. He couldn't believe how Karl had changed since he'd last seen him a few weeks before that.Christ, they just got married in February, Bill thinks to himself, frustrated by Karl's and Mat's misfortune.What the fuck? So, fucking unfair. He hits the top of the bar as hard as he can, never feeling the pain.

The doctors, looking grim, enter Karl's room. Jack stands next to Mat and holds him tightly at the sight of the doctors' demeanor. Karl squeezes Mat's hand and firmly holds it.You're my anchor, Mat, he thinks. He knows what's coming. Nevertheless, the verdict comes as a nuclear blast: incurable glioblastoma, stage 4. Prognosis: a few weeks. The neurologist tells them that he will be back later this afternoon to discuss what's next. They both leave without saying a word.

Karl keeps holding Mat's hand, who stands firm, taking the hit but unable to stop the river of tears. Jack remains as solid as an oak for Mat's and Karl's sake. He kisses his son on the forehead and leaves the room. He knows they need to be alone, and he has the impossible task of making the dreaded calls.

Mat bends down and tenderly kisses his lover.

"I love you, ...

... Karl."

"Mat," Karl softly says, "I want to die at home, please."

"Of course," Mat replies, surprised by his own firm tone. "I'll stay with you and take care of you, my love."

Karl sits up by the side of his bed, pulls Mat to him, and they hug for a very long time, silently suffering.

The shock of the news shakes the entire staff. In a way, it's worse than if the news has simply been that Karl had died suddenly in some accident. Jules is devastated and asks Elena to send everybody home. He knows no work will get done; he knows that he certainly can't do any.

Elena calls Steve with the bad news.

"No fucking way," he says. He remains silent for a long moment, trying to contain his sorrow.

"You should go home, Steve," Elena tells him very softly, waiting for Steve to get his control back.

"I can't, Elena," he replies with a firm voice. "We're at a critical phase, and I must be here." He breathes deeply, then he asks Elena, "How are you holding up?"

"Don't worry, Steve," Elena says. "Like you, I'm holding the fort. Almost everyone has left. Chloé is devastated. I'll see to her and bring her home with me. Jules took it very badly. I called Max to come and get him." She takes a deep breath. "I'll see you at home tonight. I love you."

"I love you too."

He thinks of Karl and Mat and tears come unabashed. Then he takes a deep breath and goes back to work.I won't let you down, buddy, he thinks to himself.

Bill, Karl's best friend, drops his phone, and ...