Challenge - One a hooker, one anything else, but not a trick

Joey whistled as he closed the door to his apartment and threw his bag on over his shoulder. He decided against taking the elevator, his small fear of getting trapped in the old machine got the best of him and he happily pushed through the door and started to jog down the stairs. On his way down he smiled at Chris, his neighbour, who smiled back sadly and ran up the steps without another word of hello.

Joey sighed. Since Chris had moved into the building a few months before Joey had tried his hardest to be nice to the man but to no avail. Chris kept himself private, saying hello and nothing else. And that thought made Joey sad. Chris never seemed to have any visitors, he seemed lonely and sad all the time, but no matter what efforts the Italian made to become friends they were cast aside.

He shook his brown head and noticing that he had slowed his pace while in thought he started to jog down the four more flights, once again. He was going to be early for his shift at his family's restaurant but ever since he had become manager he liked to keep it that way. Fatone's had been in his family for decades. Ever since his Grandfather had moved to New York from Italy with a dream to bring the best Italian cuisine to America. Fatone's was now one of the best Italian restaurants in New York, and Joey couldn't help but feel proud.

He smiled when he saw the sign for the first floor. He had to admit the stairs certainly gave him all the exercise he needed. As he reached the platform between the second floor and first he saw a piece of paper. He moaned wishing people put rubbish in the bins provided rather then throwing them on the floor. True the apartment building wasn't the cleanest in New York but it didn't take much to keep the rats away. He bent down and picked it up. Ready to throw it in the closest bin, but stopped when he saw the writing on it. Maybe it wasn't rubbish after all. His curiosity got the better of him and he started to read the written words. He gasped and frantically looked about the stairs not sure what to do. He turned and quickly started to run back the way he had come. Thanking god he was fast at the same time as asking god to make him faster. All the way up the stairs the letter ran through his mind.

Dear mum,
I'm sorry that this had to happen. And I'm sorry that I let you and our family down. I only ever wanted to provide for you. Let you live the life I know you deserve. But I can't do it anymore and I'm sorry. I took the wrong path and I can't seem to step off of it. The right thing for me right now is to give up. To give in. I can't live like I have been. I can't make you proud anymore and I'm sorry. The money I sent you was tainted. I lied to you. I don't work in a restaurant, I work on the street. I got my money by selling myself and I have never been more ashamed of anything in my life as I am that I let you down. All I can ask is that you forgive me. That you remember me as your son that loved you so much I would do anything for you. So I have to go. And I wish I could say just one thing that would make you feel better about my death but I can't. not one damn single thing.
Always remember that the one truth in my life was the love I had for you and the girls. No matter where I am that love will be alive and true.

Chris xx

****

Joey was out of breath by the time he reached Chris's door. He was bent over with one hand on his knee trying to catch his breath while his other hand banged on the door. He kept banging for a few seconds until he had just enough breath to talk.

"Chris? Chris! It's Joey your neighbour! Chris open the door." he was answered with nothing but silence and dread filled his stomach. He banged a few more times, more insistently now and stood up straight.

"I know you're in there! And I know what you're doing!. You lost something on the stairs! open the damn door Chris or I swear I will break it down." still nothing and Joey was starting to panic. What if it had already happened? What if he was too late? Hadn't got up the stairs fast enough. He placed his ear onto the door and listened. Trying to block out the whirring sounds of the elevator and the conversation going on a few floors down. When he did he heard a slight shuffle near the door and a soft sob. His heart broke at the sound and knew he had to do something. Anything to save this man.

"Chris! I know you can hear me ok! look I found your letter. I'm not going to be the one that gives that to your mum. Chris! did you hear me? I'm not! I'm not fucking gonna do it! so you open this door right now or ima bash it down. Come and get the letter Chris give it to her your god damn self." he wasn't sure when his voice had got angry and frantic but his shoulders slumped down in defeat when his ranting had stopped. He didn't know what he was supposed to do now. Short from knocking the door down. At that thought he looked around the hall, searching for anything that would help him when he needed it. Surprisingly he didn't have to as he heard the door open slowly and snatched his attention back to the doorway. It was open just a crack but Joey didn't take the chance that it would close again so he quickly pushed inside.

Once he had strode in he turned and his heart twisted at the man he saw before him. Chris was slumped as he stood, tears falling freely down his cheeks and his brown-eyed gaze fixed unto the floor. He was wringing his hands furiously and even from where Joey was standing he could see they were red and sore. He slowing started to walk over to the older man.

"Chris! have you.. Have you taken anything? Done anything yet?" Chris stayed silent. Not lifting his gaze and not breaking the rubbing motions of his hands. That was until Joey forced them apart and took them in his own. Rubbing his thumbs gently over palms. He stayed silent and rubbed until Chris spoke. His voice croaking and rasping, barely heard.

"I haven't.. I was about to.. I" fresh tears started to fall and the Italian had no idea how to handle something like this. So he did all he could and manoeuvred them both until Joey was sitting against the front door with Chris pulled between his legs and his shaking back against strong Italian chest. Joey still had hold of his hands stroking them gently, feeling the man in his arms start to relax.

"Why?.. Why do this?"

"You read the note! I'm a whore."

"That's not a reason to do this,,, why do you want to die?" the shorter brunet shivered at the question.

"It's not that I want to die.. I just don't want to live." the words shot right down to Joey's soul. How can someone hate their life so much that they want to end it? Leave behind family, take their own life. He had been so lucky. So loved. Had everything handed to him on a plate and he just took took took. Chris had none of that. He had to fight for what he got. And what he got wasn't worth it.

"You know I'm not going to let you die right. I can't. I can help you Chris. Help get your life back on track but you have to want it. Because I'm not going to explain to your mum why you killed yourself. Do it for her Chris. You have things to live for, you just have to see them,"

"I can't."

"You can. You wouldn't have opened the door if you didn't want to be saved."

"I was scared. I don't want to die.. I just.. I wanted a sign.. I didn't have any other options. Then you came.. And I.."

"It's ok.. We can work it out.. You have to trust me. Tell me you want to live." silence filled the room but Joey's gentle caresses didn't stop. "Tell me Chris! Tell me you want to live and I will do everything I can to help you.. But you have to tell me."

"I do! I want to! god I'm sorry. So sorry." the silent tears turned into sobs and they both moved so that Chris was now crying into the fabric of Joey's shirt. They stayed that way for a long time, until Joey could once again breath without the thought of the man in his arms dying. Until Chris' sobs had slowed and he allowed himself to be moved around the room hand by hand as his saviour packed up some of his things and took him and his stuff next door to the spare room Joey's apartment had. There Chris slept in strong arms as a beautiful voice soothed his soul.