Xaloc felt like he had been burned. The fire stuck through him accurately and mercilessly, nailing him firmly; blood hadn't been spilled but Xaloc had already lost the strength to struggle.
It was not the hug that was so tight, almost as if Jamal wanted to merge their bodies together. It was not the that dropped from his lover's lips which seemed to send Xaloc into a spiral of shame and guilt.
No, it was the hot tears that dripped on his shoulders, each drop was hotter than the scorching sun of the Depths of the Gloom completely consuming Xaloc.
What was the appropriate response to this situation? Should he hug him back, console him or say a few words to relieve Jamal? Xaloc did not do anything, he just let Jamal hug him in tears.
