The air was crisp from the cold. Nathan knew that winter was going to last awhile. Autumn and winter were the seasons he hated the most. In Manchester, the weather was always cold this time of year. The grass was covered in frost, the trees were in hibernation, almost making them look dead, and most of all, people were with their families. They were all happy and with the ones they loved. He wasn't hateful towards them because of it, but it made him jealous. He was tall, maybe 5'9", and he was in good shape. He ran every morning, ate well and cared about his appearance. He had dark brown hair, almost a sepia color, and bright green eyes. He wore nice close, thanks to his new position at the Globe, and he lived relatively nice. He was kind, smart and just a good person. He couldn't understand why he couldn't join in such an intimate pleasure. Okay, he did get offered to spend the holidays with his friend Kyle and his girlfriend, but he didn't want to intrude.
        He found himself standing in front of a liquor store. He never been in one and he was feeling a little guilty, for a reason he did not understand. He purchased a bottle and quickly left, ducking into an alley way, hoping no one would see his sin. He heard a muffled cry and Nathan was going to leave whoever be, but whoever it was seemed to need help. He walked further into the alley way and saw a drunken man press his body close to his frightened victim. Nathan grew furious. He swiftly removed the man, just in time to stop any further, and unwanted action. The man that was pressed up against the wall had his eyes tightly close, and the drunken man attacked Nathan with a knife recently drawn. Nathan unarmed the older, and very wasted man, and hit him in his gut. The drunk got up and left.
Nathan turned to the man, who still had his pants around his ankles, and frowned. The man opened his eyes to see Nathan walking towards him. The man's eyes widened when Nathan kneeled on the ground and pulled his pants up. The man buttoned up his pants quickly and searched for his shirt. Noticing the shredded top on the ground, Nathan unbuttoned his jacket and draped it over The man's shoulders. The man was about 5'6" and he stood small against Nathan's tall frame. Nathan would easily be ably to fit the man to himself. The man looked about 25 years old with blonde chopped hair and blue eyes. The man looked like a rose to Nathan, the outer petals so exposed, while the inner ones where so confident of their beauty. The man walked with an aura of dignity as we walked out of the alleyway together. The man seemed very suspicious of Nathan at first, but after examining his face for a moment, he seemed to relax.        

        "Where do you live?" Nathan asked in a scratchy, unused voice. He guessed the man didn't understand sign language, so he mustered up any voice that could escape his lips.

        The man seemed curious of Nathan's voice, but brushed it aside. He looked around for a moment before answering Nathan. "I am going to walk you home. I promise I am not going to harm you." Nathan chuckled silently. He smiled at the man, and the man led Nathan to his home. When they arrived there, The man looked reluctantly at Nathan and then leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Nathan looked startled. "Why?" Nathan barely got out, nervousness creeping into his voice.

        The man replied with a smile on his face. "You really helped me out and I wanted to thank you." He looked away shyly. "My name is Greg. What is yours?" Nathan barely whispered a reply, but Greg must have heard, because he smiled and replied. "I have no one to spend the holidays with, and if your not doing anything, I was wondering if you would like to spend them with me." The man continued.        

        Nathan blushed. "Are sure that would be alright?"

        Greg just nodded his head. They exchanged cell numbers and he left for home.
        As soon as he arrived at home, he went straight to bed. He actually had plans for the holiday. He was smiling to himself as he dozed off. ' Greg, he said his name was Greg." Nathan fell asleep happy.
        He woke the next morning to a text message waiting for him. 'How are you? Are our plans still on?' Greg remembered that Nathan was deaf. Nathan had been deaf for more than half his life, and yesterday had been the only time he really ever wanted to use his voice. He knew it was haggard, and rough, but he wanted to comfort Greg. Nathan replied him with a good morning and a smiley face. The next moment, the red light for the bell blink. Nathan opened the door to see Greg's smiling face looking up at him.

        "Well good morning to you too."

        Nathan looked at Greg confused. "Where did you get my address?"

        Greg stuck out his tongue. "The yellow book. It really is as amazing as they say." He looked down at the floor. "I really love your voice. I know that is kind of weird to say, but it makes me happy." He looked at his watch, while his eyes got big. "I have to go! I have to prepare for tomorrow! I'll call you later to make better plans, alright?" With that said, he was out the door.

        Nathan walked into his kitchen, determined to make something nice for Greg. He looked into the fridge, and realized he was out of egg. So he had to run to the market. On his way out, he saw a crowd gather a block away from his house. Curious, he walked closer to get a better look. What he saw made him scream, and cry out. He has never been able to hear his own voice, but in that moment, he heard it, and it was horrific. He pushed his way through the crowd and bent down beside Greg, gathering his head into his arms. There was a knife sticking out of him and he was laying there motionless. Nathan was crying.. It was then, that Nathan realized, that in the little time he spent with Greg, he was able to carve a place into Nathan's heart and now, Nathan felt so lonely.

        The funeral was held three days later. Nathan paid for the whole thing and made sure that Greg got whatever he could afford. Greg's tombstone was a rose, and imprinted was a warning. "Let you carry my voice to the heavens itself. For taking you away, while you were still just a bud, I will declare war, and my thorns will pierce away your mercilessness." It also told him forever that Nathan loved him. He truly did love that man, that rose. And now He will never be able to escape winter's wrath. but Greg will never wilt or die, or ever, never be destroyed, not by winter's cold.