Eric's Eagle

Then he remembered the dream, if that's what it was, of Kevin and Ryan. But it had seemed so real! He pondered the possibilities while the EMTs carried him to the ambulance and Mark walked alongside, refusing to let go of his hand.

Movement in the sky caught his eye: He saw a bald eagle flying right above him. He knew it was probably just flying along, but something about it made him focus all his attention on the eagle.

He nearly gasped when the eagle looked right him, and instead of the usual yellow eyes, he saw the regal green eyes that he had only seen in one creature before.

KEVIN!! The bird seemed to nod, its green eyes fixated on Eric. As it flew off, a smaller eagle followed. Eric guessed that would have to be Ryan.

This told Eric that seeing Kevin had not been a dream. It was real. Kevin had forgiven him and now stayed to protect him and to be on his side.

The last thing he saw before he passed into sleep was the bald eagle flying toward the horizon, and he was confident that his Kevin would always be by his side.