He wrenched open their bedroom door and flung it shut behind
himself as Bill barrelled into his arms. They held each other tightly
as they collapsed, Tom’s back against the door and Bill held against him.
“I won’t let them split us up,” Tom said, as much to himself as to his brother.
“We can keep our secrets. They can’t touch us.”
“Promise,” Bill said. “Promise me we’ll always be together."
“We will always be together,” Tom said. “I promise.”
They’ll create a secret handshake for it, which will take an hour to design.
They will never forget it.
One night, several years later, they will make the pact again, with a cut to
each palm and a shared promise of blood.
After that, Bill will write In Die Nacht without giving a shit if it’s obvious to everyone.
They’ll argue sometimes and some stupid shit will happen, but they’ll recover at
the speed of light and be stronger than they were before.
They’ll stay together. (c)